The Pulaski County Courthouse elevator was completed almost a year ago, but the county council is still being asked to consider funding arrangements. An additional appropriation request for almost $57,000 was presented Tuesday for council members’ consideration. Council Member Kathi Thompson voiced concern, noting that the money has already been spent, even though the council is just now being asked for permission to spend it.
Auditor Laura Wheeler explained that the money was in last year’s budget, but it had to be appropriated again, since many of the bills didn’t arrive until this year. “I encumbered $17,000 because that was the last invoice that I was aware of from 2018,” Wheeler said. “If it was a 2018 invoice, you encumber. I didn’t get any more invoices until 2019. If it was a 2019 invoice, I can’t encumber. And then there were disputes on the invoices, and so I had to wait until the negotiation, and they came to an agreement. At that point in time, it doesn’t matter whether you approve it or not. I have to pay it.”
But Thompson felt that Wheeler shouldn’t have waited until now to discuss the issue with the council. “At that point in time, it behooves you to come to the county council because it’s the county council that decides how that money is spent and where it comes from,” Thompson said.
Council Member Mike Tiede asked, “Hey, if the elevator’s built, what are you going to do, tell them to take it back?”
“No, we can’t take it back,” Thompson replied. “I’m just saying it was unappropriated money that was spent.” Thompson added that she’d like to see the contracted amount and how much the county has actually paid.
In the end, the county council voted four-to-one to advertise the additional appropriation request for further consideration. Thompson opposed, Brian Young abstained from voting, and Ken Boswell was not in attendance. The request will be up for final approval in a future meeting.
