2008 Woodie Awards
Money missing from city's account
Cemetery funds investigated, amount gone is unknown
By: Frank Wisswell
Issue date: 12/5/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Michigan State Police are investigating a discrepancy in the city of Mount Pleasant's cemetery account.
City Manager Kathie Grinzinger said some "irregularities" in the balance of the account were discovered Nov. 16. Grinzinger said the city contacted the state police Nov. 19.
Grinzinger said the cemetery account contains between $20,000 and $30,000, though the actual amount missing still is unknown.
"If there was any wrongdoing, we wanted it to be investigated by someone other than ourselves," Grinzinger said.
The Michigan Department of Treasury as well as the city's auditors were contacted.
Detective Sgt. Jerry Carter of the Michigan State Police said the investigation still is ongoing.
"(The) focus (of the investigation) is to determine how much is missing," Carter said.
Grinzinger said the situation was made more difficult after the retirement of City Clerk Rob Flynn. Flynn was primarily in charge of the cemetery account, Grinzinger said.
Flynn retired Nov. 20 after 34 years working for the city. He could not be reached for comment for this story.
Grinzinger would not say whether Flynn had expressed his retirement plans to officials before Nov. 20.
She said for years he was eligible for retirement for under the Municipal Employee Retirement System of Michigan, which states an employee must be 55 years old and have worked 25 years for the city.
Grinzinger said City Treasurer Mary Ann Kornexl will head temporary elections for City Clerk. In the meantime, Finance Director Nancy Ridley will serve as clerk during City Commission meetings.
Other clerk duties such as ordinances, deeds and licensing will be handled by city staff, Grinzinger said.
Carter said investigations such as this one can take a long time depending on how well the guilty party covered their tracks.
"Embezzlements are cumbersome and they take a while," he said. "We've got a lot to uncover."
Carter said it's often difficult to uncover what actions were taken by the guilty party.
Though she has not yet heard back from the state police, Grinzinger said the city plans to do all it can to assist their investigation.
"Right now, we have two primary purposes - to cooperate fully with the Michigan State Police and to put in place any kind of measures that are necessary to preserve the trust that the public places in us to manage their money and their affairs," Grinzinger said.
news@cm-life.com
City Manager Kathie Grinzinger said some "irregularities" in the balance of the account were discovered Nov. 16. Grinzinger said the city contacted the state police Nov. 19.
Grinzinger said the cemetery account contains between $20,000 and $30,000, though the actual amount missing still is unknown.
"If there was any wrongdoing, we wanted it to be investigated by someone other than ourselves," Grinzinger said.
The Michigan Department of Treasury as well as the city's auditors were contacted.
Detective Sgt. Jerry Carter of the Michigan State Police said the investigation still is ongoing.
"(The) focus (of the investigation) is to determine how much is missing," Carter said.
Grinzinger said the situation was made more difficult after the retirement of City Clerk Rob Flynn. Flynn was primarily in charge of the cemetery account, Grinzinger said.
Flynn retired Nov. 20 after 34 years working for the city. He could not be reached for comment for this story.
Grinzinger would not say whether Flynn had expressed his retirement plans to officials before Nov. 20.
She said for years he was eligible for retirement for under the Municipal Employee Retirement System of Michigan, which states an employee must be 55 years old and have worked 25 years for the city.
Grinzinger said City Treasurer Mary Ann Kornexl will head temporary elections for City Clerk. In the meantime, Finance Director Nancy Ridley will serve as clerk during City Commission meetings.
Other clerk duties such as ordinances, deeds and licensing will be handled by city staff, Grinzinger said.
Carter said investigations such as this one can take a long time depending on how well the guilty party covered their tracks.
"Embezzlements are cumbersome and they take a while," he said. "We've got a lot to uncover."
Carter said it's often difficult to uncover what actions were taken by the guilty party.
Though she has not yet heard back from the state police, Grinzinger said the city plans to do all it can to assist their investigation.
"Right now, we have two primary purposes - to cooperate fully with the Michigan State Police and to put in place any kind of measures that are necessary to preserve the trust that the public places in us to manage their money and their affairs," Grinzinger said.
news@cm-life.com
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