County offices take heat over policies
Bookkeeping items took a good chunk of time during the commissioner’s court meeting Feb. 9.
Policies concerning the manner of which invoices were paid along with county employees submitting reimbursements were all discussed thoroughly.
Judge Kirkpatrick kicked off the meeting with a resounding order to the county treasurer’s office that “invoices should be paid in a timely manner,” and that some invoices are not getting paid at all.
“I notice that some bills are not being paid in a timely manner,” said Kirkpatrick. “We (the county) have some invoices dating back to June 2015 that have not been paid – including some from the company that provides food service for the jailed inmates. We could be cut off by some important vendors. Why haven’t they been paid?”
County employee Irma Hayes told Kirkpatrick that the treasurer’s office “waits to pay invoices until they appear on the monthly statements.”
Hayes is listed on the county’s website (www.vanzandtcounty.org) as the assistant county treasurer and also listed as the person in charge of accounts payable and receivable.
Kirkpatrick then suggested a change in procedure, directing the treasurer’s office to “change the procedure to pay bills as soon as the treasurer’s office receives the invoices.”
Commissioner Virgil Melton Jr. suggested that the treasurer’s office “shoot the commissioners an email,” when there were problems with invoices.
County Treasurer Teri Pruitt was not present during the meeting.
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