The Gazette
SOLON, Iowa — An audit of bank accounts associated with the Solon Volunteer Fire Department, Tri-Township Fire Department and the Solon Firefighters Benevolent Assocation over a three-year period revealed thousands of dollars of improper and unsupported disbursements, the state said Tuesday.
While most of the $67,557.54 in questionable expenses were classified as unsupported by proper documentation, the state auditor found that $1,374.37 of it was improper — including an $81.95 payment to a liquor store in 2011 for an undefined “stag” party and $18.73 for 10 decks of playing cards in 2013.
Additionally, the audit identified $1,167 of collections that were not deposited.
Bob Siddell, chief of the Solon and Tri-Township fire departments, referred questions to the Solon city administrator.
“We are pleased there is no evidence of wrong doing,” administrator Cami Rasmussen said in a statement. “It appears there is a need to update procedures so there is no doubt that the fundraising activities of the Solon Firefighters Benevolent Association produce private money as intended.”
According to the auditor’s office, the review was requested by Solon residents who “expressed concerns regarding bank accounts and financial transactions of the Solon Volunteer Fire Department.”
State Auditor Mary Mosiman could not be reached for comment.
Accounts associated with the Solon and Tri-Township Fire Department — which covers the Big Grove, Cedar and Newport Townships — and Solon Firefighters Benevolent Association were reviewed for the period of Jan. 1, 2011, through May 6, 2014. The Solon and Tri-Township departments operate as one department, according to the auditor’s report. The benevolent association is a non-profit organized for “charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes,” according its incorporation papers.
Besides the improper expenses for alcohol, cards and food identified in the report, Mosiman was unable to determine if more than $66,000 was properly spent.
“Mosiman reported sufficient documentation was not available to determine the propriety of $66,183.17 of disbursements from the Solon Firefighters and Benevolent Association’s checking accounts,” the report states. “The disbursements included payments to convenience stores and various retail vendors, such as Best Buy.”
The benevolent association’s account had deposits of $150,968.26 during the period the audit covered. Most came from annual breakfast and dance fundraisers.
In her report, Mosiman recommended fundraiser proceeds and other donations to the department be deposited with the city. Additionally, she recommended establishing “procedures which ensure all financial transactions are deposited to or issued from the proper accounts between the City and Benevolent Association.”
Rasmussen said the City Council will meet to discuss the report and necessary actions.
Copyright 2015 The Gazette
All Rights Reserved