City annual audit results in "clean opinion'

Travis Hundley, partner in Gerding, Korte & Chitwood, CPA's, presented the audit report to the City of California Board of Aldermen at its regular monthly meeting Monday, Oct. 5, stating it was a "clean opinion."

Hundley said this audit was a little different in that it also included a report on the spending of more than $500,000 in federal funds, regarding the new water tower. The water tower was a project of greater than $2 million in cost. About $500,000 was a grant and another $500,000 was a loan from the drinking water revolving fund. For federal accounting purposes, the entire amount is required to be audited for possible non-compliant use of the money. "Nothing came to the auditors attention that warranted a report of non-compliance," he said.

During the audit, one area was discovered of funds being recorded in the wrong account, but that was determined be a problem of two incompatible computer software programs. The problem will be fixed.

In other business, the council approved the new logo and tag line, received updates on several projects, made a decision on the renewals of the health, dental, vision and life insurance and approved a number of ordinances.

The new city logo will be appearing on city vehicles soon. "Proud to Serve" will continue to be the tag line with the logo.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) contract on lighting the "Welcome to California" sign to be built at the four lane Highway 50 / 87 interchange has been approved. The city will take over the cost of electricity for the Business 50 / 87 traffic light and the state will provide electricity from the MoDOT power lines at the interchange for the sign. The final design of the sign will be approved later.

The council voted to accept the bid from National Playground Compliance Group for the rubber mats to be placed in the playground area for safety under the approved playground equipment to be installed near the east shelter house in Proctor Park. The old shelter house was taken down some time ago. The new concrete base is expected to be poured within the next 10 days. The shelter house with restroom facility should be completed by the end of the year.

The asphalt street overlays are complete, with some restoration work still needed. The Country Club Estates electrical project has been completed. The new water tower on the west end of the city is operating and the well house is being constructed.

The new business license ordinance has been approved and more information will be available at a later date.

Due to the use of so much PVC pipe (a type of plastic) instead of metal, the state of Missouri is requiring a tracer wire to be installed with each line to make it easier for them to be located in case of excavation or maintenance work. The PVC is hard to detect through the usual means. The tracer wire can be attached to a small battery which sends a current through it. That allows it to be located.

The employee health insurance increase was held to 9 percent by negotiation. It was originally 11.2 percent. Dental increased 4 percent, vision and life insurance rates remained the same.

The council went into closed session following the department reports.

The next regular meeting of the City Council will be Monday, Nov. 2.