Claremore Daily Progress

Verdigris

January 18, 2013

County requests state audit

Following executive session commissioners seek review of emergency management’s inventory and expenditures

Salesha Wilken Staff Reporter

CLAREMORE — The Rogers County Commissioners are requesting State Auditor Gary Jones perform an audit of the county’s emergency management department.

The board met Thursday in executive session to discuss inventory and expenditures for Emergency Management, prompting the decision.
No further explanation was provided to the public. Former Emergency Management Director Bob Anderson and his 16-year employment with the county remains the topic of discussion. 
Assistant District Attorney David Iski and Rogers County Commissioner Kirt Thacker opened the meeting stating the legality of the meeting.
“Myself, not an attorney, would it be proper to enter into executive session,” Thacker said.
“It would be my advice to do so,” Iski said.
Thacker’s remarks were very pointed regarding the recent objection to the meeting by the Claremore Daily Progress.  The notice provided for the meeting only stated the executive session was for a review Emergency Management Inventory and FY 2012-2013 expenditures. No specific language of investigation or probe into issues of personnel was listed in the agenda. 
“Mr. Iski you are the only one here that has a graduated from law school,” Thacker said.
The board met for more than two hours behind closed doors.  Human Resources Director Jenny Bentley was an active participant during the executive session.
Bentley’s presence indicated that the meeting was focused on a personnel matter involving former Emergency Management Director Bob Anderson. 
Additionally, the commissioner’s secretary Christine Day and temporary Emergency Management Director Kelly Deal were called into the executive session.
The meeting was called back to public session and the board voted and took action to request the audit.
The commissioners nor Iski at their request would reveal if the audit would be investigative in nature.
 

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