In anticipation of the 2012 audit being made public on Friday we wanted our readers to have the findings of the 2011 audit available to peruse in advance of learning if the 2011 issues have been corrected and to see if 2012 was a better year for reconciliation and compliance at the Civic Center.

Excerpts Describing deficiencies.

“Fund balances were not reconciled to bank balances for the entire year of 2011. As of July 31, 2012, City officials were still unable to reconcile the ledger to the bank account and were still making adjustments to
the December 31, 2011 fund balances.”

“A materially correct annual report for 2011 was not presented for audit. Also, the City filed their annual report past the deadline.”

“The City’s accounting information system was not equipped to produce the following forms or their equivalent: 

1. City and Town Form No. 208 – Ledger or Receipts, Disbursements, and Balances

2. City and Town Form No. 209 – Ledger of Appropriations, Encumbrances, Disbursements and Balances

Officials and employees are required to use State Board of Accounts prescribed or approved forms in the manner prescribed.”

“We were unable to obtain records in which the detail matched the control for the year 2011. The City also kept 2011 open through at least July 2012 which caused year end fund balances and total receipts and total disbursements of some funds to materially change. We also noted several instances in the utility funds where accrual entries were being made in the cash basis system.”

“The controls over the receipting, disbursing, recording, and accounting for the financial activities were insufficient for the following reasons:  1. Weaknesses in input controls.  2. Oversight deficiencies in the reconcilement process.”

“As stated in several prior reports, the City entered into a contract with SMG, effective January 1, 2006, to manage Roberts Stadium, Victory Theater, and Mesker Music Theater. The contract required an independent audit of SMG. An addendum to the contract was added on September 5, 2007, amending the contract from requiring an audit to requiring a review. As of July 2012, a review had not been completed for the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, or 2011. Without the independent review of SMG’s financial records the accuracy of amounts paid to or received from SMG cannot be verified.”

“The cash balance of the General Fund, Purchasing Internal Service Fund, Information Technology Services Fund, Miscellaneous Grant Fund, Sports Non-Reverting Fund, Home Admin Investment Trust Fund, Community Dev Block Grant Fund, Old Post Office Fund, Emergency Shelter Grant Fund, General Obligation Bond 2006 Fund, Park District Bond Refunding 2010 Fund, Redevelopment Bond Retirement Fund, Workers Compensation Fund, Evansville Civil City Payroll Fund, Accounts Receivable Clearing Fund, Electronic Tax Payments Fund, SRFWW – Evansville 09 Fund, SRFWW Evansville 0610 Fund, Sewage 2010B-1 Construction Fund, Water Utility-Operating Fund, and Water Utility – Consumer Meter Deposit Fund were overdrawn in 2011.”

2011 Audit findings

Freedom, IN- Congressional candidate Andrew McNeil began his tour of the 8^th District this week, calling it “19 Days for 19 Counties”. During the month of April, Andrew will devote one full day to visiting with voters in each of the 19 counties represented in his district.  Few of the towns visited in the coming month will be seeing Andrew for the first time—over the last few months he has already scoured the district. However for the tour every County will now be announced in advance with a greater focus placed on local attractions and points of interests. Last week saw official visits to Owen, Greene, and Warrick Counties.

Andrew kicked off the tour on Monday with Owen County. He visited the towns of Spencer and Cataract going door-to-door through the neighborhoods and visiting with voters in businesses around the Owen County courthouse. Monday night ended with a well-attended candidate forum in Clay City in neighboring Clay County.

Wednesday was devoted to Greene County. Andrew stopped in Worthington, Lyons, Solsberry, Bloomfield, and Linton. As always, he visited with as many businesses and households as he could in each town. While in Solsberry, Andrew made a special trip to the Yoho General Store for lunch. There he heard from a woman whose hours were cut as part of the Obamacare mandate declaring a 30-hour workweek to be considered full time for insurance purposes.

Heavy rain interfered with plans to visit neighborhoods in Newburgh on Thursday, but Andrew honored his invitation to speak at the Warrick County Candidate Forum in Newburgh. Warrick Farm Bureau hosted the event which was also broadcast live on WBNL. The crowd of nearly 200 Republicans and Democrats erupted in applause when Andrew announced his intention to remove the EPA when elected.

Despite continued bad weather, Andrew devoted Friday to Warrick County. After a stop by the flooded Ohio River, Andrew walked up and down Newburgh visiting with businesses and followed that up with visits to the surrounding neighborhoods. The night ended at Warrick County’s Lincoln Day dinner, where Andrew learned from multiple new supporters that he had earned their votes after his appearance at Thursday’s forum.

“With only one month left before the primary vote, I’m more committed than ever to meeting with as many people as I can. It is my duty to provide the people of the 8^th District with a choice on who will represent them in Washington, so I will continue to do everything in my power to let voters see who I am and what I stand for.”

Chairman of the Board of the City-County Observer, Ron Cosby announced today that the first 2014 “Mole Award”  Recipient Committee has selected  Evansville Police Sergeant Patrick Phernetton as the first mole award winner of 2014. Cosby said of Pherrnetton, “This is quite an honor for Patrick Phernetton. He is an outstanding individual, he is persuasive both intellectually and ethically, and is the humblest of public servants. The 2014 CCO Mole Awards Committee feels honored to award Patrick with the first City-County Observer Mole Award for the year 2014.

As an Army Veteran and current Evansville Police Officer, Sergeant Patrick Phernetton has encountered many difficult situations in his life. Through his many years of service, he has seen an encountered many people in need of help. As a member of Law Enforcement, that is his job. Patrick, however, has a role much bigger than being an officer; he is a father. He has three wonderful children, but his daughter Mykenna has become the inspiration for the work Patrick does outside of his day-job. When Mykenna (known as Mickey) was born, doctor’s diagnosed her with Prader-Willi Syndrome. PWS is a genetic disease that alters those who have it to the point where they will always have a feeling of constant hunger. This extreme and insatiable appetite is one of many symptoms of PWS, but defines it for the most part. Folks with this disease will never be able to live a truly independent life. Patrick and his wife Lisa realized they needed to do something to help Mickey. They knew one day she would want her own space and freedom like all young people do. PWS would never allow that, she they searched for an alternative.

In the early days, the Music for Mickey Concert series was raising little money for a spark of an idea. As time progressed, Patrick, with some help from close friends, founded 911 Gives Hope. 911 Gives Hope was to be a boxing match between local police and firefighters with the proceeds to benefit Prader Willi Syndrome, the building of Kids Kingdom, and several other local charities. The first event was held at the Coliseum. Patrick was hoping they would sell enough tickets to cover their expenses and turn a small profit. By the end of the night, it was rumored people were offering $50 cash donations just to get in the door because it was sold out. With the fire inspector next on the fight bill, who was going to check the building capacity?

911 Gives Hope has now grown to nothing like Patrick could imagine. With well over a half million dollars raised in the first 6 years, an annual Guns & Hoses Hockey game set up and the annual toy drive, 911 Gives Hope has several avenues to help so many that are disabled around our community. What started as a dream for a daughter has turned into an invaluable pillar of the community. Guns & Hoses now is held at the cities largest indoor venue and draws over 8,000 spectators, all attending in the name of the children of Evansville. The Toy Drive yields literally thousands of toys each year and the Guns & Hoses events raise money to help grantees who ask for money throughout the year. Outside of the big events, the 911 Gives Hope board (Patrick Phernetton, Billy Bolin, Chris Rieter, Matt Garnett, Dave Harmon, Dave Weis, Sallie Jung) have always made it a point to go behind the scenes to help a child in need. Most of this is not publicized and it will never be. Patrick will continue to fight for his daughter. Founded from 911 Gives Hope is Hope Village. Hope Village will be a home within Jacob’s Village exclusively for those with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

The ball is rolling on this project and without the work of 911 Gives Hope, it would not be possible. Guns & Hoses is April 12. Your ticket goes to the pocket of no fighter or board member, just children of our community.  When you see Patrick, say hello to the man behind this dream.  The City County Observer is honored to have Patrick Phernetton among our mist.

 

Indiana’s highest ranking elected physicians announce statewide tour on the status of healthcare.

 

On Friday, U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon, M.D. and Indiana State Representative Tim Brown, M.D. announced stops on their “Hoosier Healthcare Tour,” a statewide tour to discuss the status of health and healthcare in Indiana.

Over the course of two weeks, Drs. Bucshon and Brown will travel to nine different cities and host eleven events focused on aspects of Hoosier healthcare.  Through a series of events focused on child healthcare, physician retention, minority healthcare, Medicare/Medicaid, medical device, rural healthcare, veterans healthcare, and prevention/wellness, the doctors hope to get a comprehensive overview of the state of healthcare in Indiana.

What:        Prevention and Wellness Event

When:       Thursday, April 24^th @ 2:00 – 3:30pm CT
Where:     St. Mary’s Medical Center (Amphitheater) – 3700 Washington Avenue Evansville, IN 47714

*Media permitted at event and open to public.