Internal Audit of Walton County BCC

[Bob Wells]

Feels like something that has been allowed for a long time. Free gas, food, hotels, flights.... For poor overworked Commissioners who "deserve" perks for doing work for the people.

I do think it is very possible that it has occurred for a long time. I also think it became an acceptable practice because no one threw the BS flag for whatever reason. Looking at a recent CAFRs there were no management improvements made by the outside auditor that I could find which leads me to believe they didn't ask for this stuff, it wasn't provided or it is not covered by scope required by rule or law. This doesn't forgive the BCC but there are plenty of folks who should be held accountable.
As for the perks, that is a straight up entitlement mentality and I am glad this will be coming to an end. I would bet that there will be monthly public records request for the BCC and Clerk of Courts to hold them accountable. I just hope it isn't just used around election time.

 

[leeboy]

By Dani Travis
Published: Jul. 6, 2022 at 10:45 PM CDT

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Walton County Commissioners are facing heat after the findings of an internal audit have been revealed. The audit said the clerk and internal audit originally received an anonymous tip on January 31st reported to the Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline alleging certain improprieties to the use of county vehicles and purchasing cards by certain commissioners.
An internal audit issued by the county court of clerks accuses all five county commissioners of using county-issued credit cards for transactions that were “unallowable” from October 1st, 2018 to January 31, 2022. On April 5th, the 40-page internal audit found Danny Glidewell, Tony Anderson, Trey Nick, Michael Barker, and William McCormick had violated several county policies.

Two major policies found violated were the county Purchasing Card Policy and the Travel Policy.
The audit said McCormick, Anderson, Nick, and Glidewell allegedly used the cards for meals, snacks, and in at least one case, alcohol, even though the county provides a separate allocation for food while traveling. It said McCormick owes $73, Anderson owes $27, Nick owes $126, and Glidewell $98.
The audit also said McCormick, Anderson, Nick, and Glidewell used the cards to pay for upgraded seating on flights during that same time period, even though Walton County rules state that commissioners can only fly coach. It said McCormick owes $575, Anderson owes $900, Nick owes $1,760, and Glidewell owes $1,368.

The county released a statement Tuesday saying:
“Last week, the Board of County Commissioners became aware of an audit completed by the Clerk of Court and released to the general public on July 1, 2022. That audit covers purchasing cards (”P-Cards”), travel vouchers, and use of county vehicles, and focused solely on each of the five County Commissioners. The Board has previously directed staff to investigate similar issues, notably P-Cards and travel policies. Staff has been conducting a review of existing policies and practices for those issues related to all County employees and County Commissioners and has been developing policy revisions to address identified issues, many of which overlap with those identified by the Clerk.
During that process, staff became aware of the Clerk’s audit, as well as the Clerk’s intent to adopt a new P-Card policy. During a meeting with the Clerk of Court, staff concurred with many of the Clerk’s recommended changes and advised of numerous revisions to be recommended to the Board for adoption that go beyond what the Clerk has proposed. Now that county staff has received and reviewed a copy of the audit and the new policy, the Board will be presented and shall consider revisions to the relevant policies at upcoming Board meetings.

The findings of the Clerk’s audit reveal what the Board has previously identified as a systemic breakdown of policies within the prior administration of the County and an improper reliance on practice over written policy by those responsible for administering these programs. Current staff has echoed these concerns and undertaken wholesale revisions to eliminate these issues and prevent any future occurrences. With the combined efforts of all involved, the Board looks forward to more fully addressing these issues and adopting solutions in the coming weeks.”
The internal audit also said Commissioner Michael Barker was in violation of several other county policies.

NewsChannel 7 reached out to the clerk’s office for comment Wednesday on the audit, but they declined to comment. We also reached out to the five-county commissioners individually for comment but were told they declined to comment until they’re presented with new policy revisions at the county commission meeting next Tuesday at 4 P.M.

For a look at the full 40-page audit, visit Walton County Commissioner Internal Audit.

 

[leeboy]

Miramar Beach resident Suzanne Harris had obtained a copy of the report in response to a public records request and had provided the report to the media, county commissioners and staff.

Harris made the following statement on the matter: “The audit the Clerk of Courts’ office did on the County Commissioners’ P-Cards, better known as county credit cards, was at the least eye opening. The gross misuse by all was shocking, but the two worst offenders Danny Glidwell and Trey Nick showed in my opinion total disregard for the law.”

She continued, “They had no problem firing Dede Hinote for two misuses when they had been misusing their cards all along. Flying business class, staying in $500 dollar a night hotels, is only the tip of the iceberg. The commissioners need to immediately pay back any and all items on this report. They also need to resign for disrespecting their position and wasting taxpayers’ money.

“One commissioner is blaming everyone but himself including the Clerk of Courts employees for not catching these expenditures. That is the most childish excuse I have heard. The employees at the clerk’s office are hard working individuals and should not be blamed for our commissioners’ stupidity.”

Harris concluded: “Narcissistic behavior always blames other people for their actions. During a time many of our county employees and residents are having a hard time feeding their family and putting gas in their cars to get to work our BCC feels they can live the high life on our tax dollars. They should be ashamed.”

 

[leeboy]

UPDATE: 7/12/2022 10:13 p.m.

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) — At Tuesday’s special meeting the each Walton County Commissioner took the opportunity to dispute claims made in a recent audit done by the Clerk of Courts.

“As an elected constitutional officer I accept any responsibilities for a mistake I might make. However, I do not take responsibility for mistakes I have not made,” Commissioner Michael Barker, said.

County Attorney, Clay Adkinson, along with the rest of the commission said the Clerk of Courts, Alex Alford, produced an inaccurate and flawed audit.

They said they never received a copy of the audit or even knew of it before it was made public.

“I take great issue regardless of any finding made or not made by the clerk,” Adkinson said. “The clerk strictly did not adhere to yellowbook standards of audit practice. This type of audit in my opinion required an opportunity for management response.”

Adkinson blamed the old administration saying there was widely inconsistent application of written policies.

“The most consistent trend was, why are you doing something wrong?” ‘Well we’ve always done it that way we know no other way to do it we were trained to do it this way,'” Adkinson said. “That is unacceptable. That is wholly and completely unacceptable.”

Some of the commissioners were accused of purchasing expensive hotel rooms, first class plane tickets and in some cases, alcohol.

Commissioners Glidewell and McCormick both deny ever purchasing alcohol.

“Well folks let me tell you something I ain’t that stupid,” McCormick said. “Do you really think I’m going to go into my own liquor store where I’ve lived for 60 years and buy alcohol and put that on a department card?”

McCormick, Glidewell, Nick and Anderson are all accused of booking expensive flights and hotel accommodations.

But McCormick said he’s never booked a flight or hotel room.

“I let my aide know where the time and the dates they get with then who was Marty who was the designated person to handle all of this for us, and she went out there shopping and we just took what we got,” McCormick said.

If that’s the case, then it would appear McCormick was letting other people use his card which is a violation of county policy.

Trey Nick is also accused of spending thousands of dollars more on a conference that was attended by other county employees who spent less.

When asked about the difference in cost, Nick said he didn’t have a comment.

It’s not lost on Walton County citizens that commissioners fired former County Administrator, Dede Hinote for the same reason back in March. But now they’re trying to walk that back saying they fired her because they were misled about a material fact.

But back in March when Hinote was fired, Barker said: “Sometimes things have to be done for the good of the order. Things have to be done to safeguard county government, county taxpayer funds, and those decisions have to be made by the board of county commissioners and today that’s what we’ve done.”

The county commission did not allow for public comment at Tuesday’s meeting. News 13 also went to Alford’s office for a comment on the allegations but he was not available.

 

[leeboy]

in the meeting, that probably won’t happen.

“If I owe a penny, I got my checkbook right here,” he said. “If the Clerk wants to walk up here and show me where I owe anything, I’ll pay it. But I don’t owe nothing. I don’t owe nobody nothing, because I have followed the rules and I’ve paid what I said.”
Walton audit finds rules, state law broken by county commissioners

The commission said Walton Clerk of Court Alex Alford’s audit was full of inaccuracies and was flawed.

County Attorney Clay Adkinson along with other commissioners said Alford’s office never presented them with a copy of the audit, and they said they should have been given the opportunity to address the allegations before the audit was released to the public.

Commissioners addressed several of the smaller charges, but questions surrounding the expensive hotel rooms and first-class flights still remain.

Glidewell is one of the commissioners accused of booking a couple of first-class flights, but he denies any wrongdoing.

He also called Alford’s actions gutless and cowardly.

Several of the commissioners denied any wrongdoing. Glidewell and McCormick are both accused of purchasing alcohol on the county card, which is something Glidewell denies.

“I’ll say right now that’s a dadgum lie,” he said. “I have never done that, I will not do that, and whoever said it is a boldface liar and they hid behind anonymity, and I have great issue with that. If you got something to say to me, say it in public.”

All five commissioners did comment on the allegations at Tuesday’s meeting, and they all took an issue with the fact that the Clerk of Courts reportedly did not provide them with a copy of the audit and did not give them the chance to respond.

The commission did not allow any time for public comment, which upset many people at that meeting. Some people called the commissioners arrogant liars and said the meeting was a complete waste of time.

However, even though there was no time for public comment, that didn’t stop them from letting out a few “boos” and even laughing in the commissioners’ faces when it was their turn to speak.

News 13 reached out to Alford for comment, and he did not respond.

 

[Matt J]

The five of them STOLE from you, me and everyone who pays taxes. They should all resign in disgrace.

 

[bob1]

The five of them STOLE from you, me and everyone who pays taxes. They should all resign in disgrace.

And even if you think not, the responses alone in the article above enrage me. It's a "how dare you accuse me" reaction that is disgusting.

 

[ShallowsNole]

If you know them, you know at least some of those things didn't happen. For one, Danny doesn't drink.
I hear that the employee tasked with making travel arrangements for the BCC resigned sometime during the past two weeks.
And if you have to wonder who the anonymous complaint was from...wow.

 

[Dawn]

If you know them, you know at least some of those things didn't happen. For one, Danny doesn't drink.
I hear that the employee tasked with making travel arrangements for the BCC resigned sometime during the past two weeks.
And if you have to wonder who the anonymous complaint was from...wow.

Please tell us which things didn't happen.

 

[Lake View Too]

And even if you think not, the responses alone in the article above enrage me. It's a "how dare you accuse me" reaction that is disgusting.

Last week, Danny was on Facebook, calmly saying that he will explain everything to everyone's satisfaction. Yesterday, on the 6 o'clock news channel 13, he was this fuming bully, yelling "how dare you!" I guess he decided not to "explain everything".