An audit of Linn County’s annual finances resulted in a “clean opinion with no reservations,” Tara Kamp of the CPA firm Pauly Rogers & Co. told Linn County commissioners Roger Nyquist and Will Tucker on Tuesday, Dec. 28.
Commissioner Sherrie Spreng-er was absent.
The auditors found only one issue, noting the limited internal controls for reviewing individual department’s reimbursement forms concerning the federal CARES program because one department did not maintain adequate documentation of their expenditures.
The county agreed with the audit findings and implemented a process in departments regarding documentation for federal grant awards. That documentation will be reviewed by two people prior to submission for reimbursement and will be maintained and held for audits.
Kamp said the firm had no difficulties performing the audit, and there was no disagreement with management concerning financial accounting, reporting or auditing matters.
Commissioner Tucker thanked Accounting Officer Bill Palmer for his diligence in preparing the county’s annual comprehensive financial report. Palmer said many people contributed to the effort, but Tucker said, “You did a great job preparing this document and you drive the effort.”
In other business, the commissioners:
— Were told by Torri Lynn of the Linn County Juvenile Department that there were 33 referrals in November, down significantly from November 2020. About 212 young people are on probation; 69 have been assessed as high-risk. There are 59 youth in the Community Programs Unit, and the Intervention Specialist is working with 70 young people.
— Held a public hearing concerning a remand from the Land Use Board of Appeals concerning a request by Northrock Inc. to add 40 acres to its current 19.47-acre quarry near Lyons. The request was previously approved by the commissioners, but LUBA remanded the issue back to the county to address water quality and noise level issues.
Those for and against the issue spoke Dec. 28 at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center. The commissioners agreed to hold the issue open seven days for written comments, another seven days of rebuttal and another six days for proponents to address comments. The commissioners expect to make a final decision during their 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18, meeting at the Linn County Courthouse.
– Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer