Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 1995 TAG: 9502230060
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: B. LYNN WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PEARISBURG LENGTH: Medium
Cook told the supervisors Tuesday night they could not receive an accurate trial balance by the 15th of each month because of inaccurate data supplied by the county administrator's office.
"The items he's brought to our attention are not as serious as he makes them out to be," Janet Tuckwiller, county administrator, said Wednesday. "They are part of the normal [financial] reconciliation process."
Cook told the board a 10-day extension would allow mistakes to be corrected. When board members reminded him that this extension would violate a 1992 order to meet the deadline of the 15th, Cook responded, "the judge did not require the report to be accurate."
Supervisor Bobby Compton wanted to know why Cook hadn't indicated problems with the administrator's office earlier. Cook said he discussed the problems with Tuckwiller.
The treasurer took the supervisors to task for filing a motion in January that said he was in contempt of the 1992 court order because he had been late in filing the revenue reports for several months. "We were working diligently to prepare these reports when the motion was filed," Cook said.
After more discussion, he challenged the board to see that mistakes are corrected prior to submission to his office, or extend the date for filing the revenue reports. Otherwise, he warned, his office will continue furnishing incorrect data on the 15th.
Supervisor George Hedrick disagreed, saying Cook should supply the reports by the middle of the month. The supervisors took no action on Cook's request.
After Cook's departure, citizen Ernie Miller asked the board why John Montoro, a consultant hired by the supervisors to assist Cook, was still providing services to the office. The board had ended Montoro's services last year, believing they were no longer required. The county has paid Montoro in excess of $60,000 since Cook's term began in 1991.
Tuckwiller said she received a bill from Montoro this month, but board members said they had not authorized his services.
In other business, supervisors, who are all elected at the same time, voted 4-1 not to change the method of their election. They concluded that staggering their terms might cause confusion.
The rules that govern the board also affect the School Board. This means when the School Board elections begin next year, their terms will conclude at the same time.
The board also heard Leon Light, a county representative on the Regional Jail Advisory Board, urge members to vote on a resolution supporting creation of the New River Regional Jail Authority. He explained that plans for the regional jail, in which the county hopes to participate, had been slowed down when Tazewell County dropped out. This caused a change in the jail's size, as well as new estimates for renovating the local jails into short-term holding areas.
In a unanimous vote, supervisors supported Giles' involvement in the jail authority.
Light reported that Grayson County and Radford also had approved their membership in the jail. Floyd County deferred making a decision Tuesday.
In other matters, the board:
Approved applying for a $540,000 grant for the Maybrook Water Extension project;
Voted unanimously to amend the zoning ordinance to comply with state regulations;
Authorized accepting bids to construct a basement under a modular building due to be moved to the Castle Rock Recreation facility;
Spent nearly two hours in executive session without making any motions, except to approve filling a mechanic's position.
by CNB