ORAN TO HIRE ACCOUNTANT TO FIND CAUSE OF MISSING CITY FUNDS

ORAN -- The Oran Board of Alderman has agreed to hire an accountant to check city records for the $11,893 reported missing in the last audit.

The audit for the fiscal year ending March 31 said with the "lack of adequate records, there is no assurance as to which city monies are short."

The board hopes to clear up the matter before accountants become extremely busy with the tax season after Jan. 1.

"We want an accountant or bookkeeper from outside of our area to come in and look at our records on a daily basis for three to four weeks," said Alderman Tom Urhahn, board president.

Urhahn said city officials already know that past bookkeeping procedures have been inadequate. Having the accountant look at things in city hall for a few weeks may help to answer questions raised by the audit, he said.

He said city officials will check contacts for a person who can handle the short-term assignment. He said the board feels like it needs to make an effort to solve the mystery of the missing funds.

The board would also like for the person it hires to be able to advise the city collector on putting more of the city's record keeping on its computer system, Urhahn said. In addition, the city plans to hire a full-time clerk to help in city hall, replacing a part-time person in that position.

The board's action may stave off an effort by former alderman Walt Madigan, who has been seeking signatures from city residents on a petition calling for a state audit of the city's finances.

To authorize a state audit, Madigan needs about 120 signatures, which is equal to 20 percent of the number of city voters who cast ballots in the 1992 gubernatorial election. He has collected more than that, but hasn't reached his goal of 150.

Madigan did not appear at this week's board meeting even though he was expected to talk to the council about a possible state audit. He said last month that if an effort was being made to discover the discrepancy, he would hold off on presenting the petition to the state auditor's office.

The cost of a state audit has been estimated at $4,000 to $12,000, which would have to be paid from city funds. If the petitions are submitted to the state auditor's office, Madigan said he has been told it will be three to six months before a state audit could begin.

Urhahn said hiring an accountant on a short-term basis will be less expensive than paying for a state audit. He said last month that if the annual audit couldn't pinpoint the problem, then a state audit wouldn't either because the same inadequate records would be used.

In other business, the board met with Sonny and Linda Glaus of Sikeston, owners of Sonny's Solid Waste. The board has agreed to use the company to collect city residents' trash starting Jan. 4. Trash collections will be made Wednesdays from 5 to 9 a.m.

The council also discussed the need for a new police car after the old one has developed motor problems. The city's public works committee will be checking prices in the area.

As a Christmas bonus, seven city employees will receive a turkey and a $50 gift certificate that can be spent locally.