The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis., Andrew Dowd column

July 22--Eau Claire County supervisors recently have questioned why they're asked to vote on payments after some of those checks have already been written and mailed.

Every month, the County Board gets a long list of bills -- mostly regular payments including utility bills, health insurance premiums, recycling fees and contract work done for the county -- that require their authorization, according to the agenda.

But during spring meetings a couple county supervisors noted that some of the bills on the list had already been paid.

Supervisor Mark Olson thought bills from accounting firm CliftonLarsonAllen's ongoing review of the county's financial practices would come to the board before making payment.

"The problem was they'd already paid the bill," he said.

Olson and other supervisors wanted the county to review its policy for paying those bills.

Talks ongoing

The county's Finance and Budget Committee has discussed at its recent meetings the role the County Board has in signing off on those bills over $10,000, but has not yet suggested changes to the procedure, if any. On Tuesday, County Board Chairman Gregg Moore noted that committee's discussions on the topic are ongoing.

Supervisor Gerald Wilkie, who says fiscal oversight is the No. 1 duty of the county's elected leaders, wants the list to only be paid after their vote.

"It should be a review and approval of anything over $10,000," he said, "just as a check and balance, I think that's a healthy thing."

Another perspective on the issue is that the County Board already gave its consent for items on the monthly list.

County Attorney Keith Zehms said that bills included in the list stem from the annual budget, separate legislation and contracts already approved by county supervisors.

"Our view is the board has approved these expenditures ahead of time and this is really a review," Zehms said during the July 14 Finance and Budget Committee meeting .

He said the county could choose to either make the monthly list of bills an item that the County Board could review or authorize.

Second opinion

But in addition to the county's legal team, Zehms noted that the accounting firm hired to review the county's financial practices may also offer its opinion.

CliftonLarsonAllen is in the midst of the review supervisors ordered in the wake of former Treasurer Larry Lokken and his deputy, Kay Onarheim -- both now convicted and in prison -- stealing $1.39 million from the county in a longtime embezzlement scheme.

Zehms said the firm's final report likely will have a recommendation on the level of oversight elected officials should have when it comes to paying bills.

"The question is what's the best practice," Zehms said.

Olson said the county needs to at least get it's terminology right -- whether the monthly board votes are truly approvals or reviews.

He'd prefer the former.

"I think we should approve them before they actually get paid," Olson said.

The County Board voted during this month's meeting on a list of 70 bills that amount to a total of $3.9 million. After a lengthy debate and approval of a living wage ordinance, the board unanimously approved the monthly bills after midnight Tuesday.

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