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LISBON -- The state auditor's office recently issued findings for recovery against two local townships in audits released this week, with the findings for Madison Township totaling $63,654 and the findings against Unity Township totaling $1,401.
The Madison Township audit covered 2022 and 2023 and noted findings for recovery for late fees and penalties paid, a wrong pay rate used for an employee, improperly paid health insurance reimbursements, paid time off and comp time for another employee, improperly paid health insurance reimbursements and paid time off for yet another employee and proceeds from a Jeep sale going to the fire department instead of the township.
The findings for recovery cover the period when Erin Williams was the fiscal officer until March 31, 2024 and two former trustees, Wayne Chamberlain and Roger Walker, were in office, along with current Trustee Robert Bruce Barrett.
The current fiscal officer is Tiffany Chetock.
For the first finding for recovery, the township paid $6,299.46 in various penalties, interest and late fees for bills, with $1,944 for non-Internal Revenue Service-related payments and $4,355 related to IRS payments. The finding for recovery was issued against Williams and the bond covering her at the time. The audit said $1,944 had been remitted to the township as of Jan. 12 this year.
The next three findings were issued against the affected employees, Williams and the trustees and the bonds covering Williams and the trustees. The second one dealt with a wrong rate being paid to an employee at double the normal rate for a total overpayment of $1,600. The third finding dealt with an employee receiving $11,500 for health insurance reimbursements even though the trustees never passed a formal resolution allowing for health insurance reimbursements. That same employee was also overpaid $9,035 for paid time off and overpaid $2,054 in comp time. Another employee received $9,500 in health insurance reimbursements and was overpaid $7,883 for paid time off.
The fifth finding dealt with a Jeep the trustees sold, with the proceeds of $15,783 going to the West Point Fire Company. The audit said the money should have gone to the township since the vehicle was titled to the township. The finding for recovery was issued against the West Point Fire Company and in favor of Madison Township's fire levy fund. A check was received by the township on Dec. 5, 2025 for $$15,783.
According to the audit, the issue with the health insurance reimbursements of $500 per month resulted because the trustees approved the reimbursements during an executive session and never passed a formal resolution.
The corrective action plan submitted by Chetock noted executive sessions will be done properly with no resolutions passed in executive session. She also noted that paid time off and comp time will be calculated correctly and all bills will be paid in full and promptly upon receiving them.
Chetock wasn't reached for comment, with a message left for her Friday evening.
In the case of Unity Township, the audit was for 2024 and 2025 and involved use of an incorrect overtime rate for an employee both in 2024 and in 2025. In 2024, the incorrect overtime rate resulted in an overpayment of $370.13. In 2025, the employee received raises and the overtime rate remained at the wrong rate, resulting in an additional overpayment of $1,030.02, bringing the total finding to $1,401.05.
Nancy Herr was the fiscal officer in 2024, then retired, and current Fiscal Officer Brenda Povenski was appointed in 2025 and elected to Herr's unexpired term.
When contacted, Povenski said the township's insurance company was handling the repayment and it was her understanding that the now former employee would be paying the money back.
She said she's gone through and made sure employee rates are all correct, double-checking everybody's rates.
Unity Township Trustee Terry L. McElroy said it was just an overtime overpayment and the money was being paid back.
"We resolved the issue and everybody's good," he said.
McElroy said the township is making sure everybody's being paid at the right scale.