Скачать или смотреть State audit finds major financial discrepancies at Lawrenceburg utility

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (WKRC) - Indiana state auditors found major financial discrepancies in an audit of the Lawrenceburg Municipal Utility in a report released Thursday.

The audit, conducted over the 2017-18 financial results, found that former officials did not account for losses associated with a multi-million fiber optic project, as well as improper payroll procedures.

The Indiana State Board of Accounts also said former utility director Olin Clawson violated nepotism policy by firing some workers, and the audit reported that losses from a "utility rodeo" held in the city were improperly passed along to local ratepayers.

The Lawrenceburg City Council fired Clawson in November. The city owns and oversees the utility, which operates the sewer and electric services for Lawrenceburg in southeast Indiana.

Clawson’s tenure was marked by several controversies, including a run-in with a local police officer and accusations in a lawsuit of allegedly soliciting a bribe. He also routinely clashed with other city officials publicly.

City officials said in a release they had made several changes at the utility, but the city lawyer declined further comment.

Clawson said he wanted to respond but wanted to read the full report and the city’s release first.

Sources tell Local 12 that a state criminal investigation into the discrepancies is underway.