| Calhoun voter redistricting required by law every ten years with US Census numbers will not be completed until after the May primary election, according to County Clerk Mike Ritchie.
While the county commissioners have approved the changing of voting places for a number of voters related to the equal distribution of voting districts, Ritchie said the time frames for the completion of process cannot be met, including the notification process and the holding of a public meeting.
Ritchie said the county redistricting will be completed by the General Election.
Ritchie advised the Calhoun Commission that the county is being fined by the Internal Revenue Service for tax code deficiencies IRS found during a recent audit of elected officials offices covering 2010.
The audit is related to what IRS says was a failure of the former county clerk's office to issue and process 1099 forms to money earned by poll workers, payments to 4-H or livestock sales made by county youth and other generally small vendors.
One issue raised was the purchase of socks for deputy sheriffs, the IRS maintain 1099s should have been issued under the accounting system used.
While the IRS did drop some of the fines, fines have been issued, for $7,502 and one for $3,300, to cover the deficiencies.
The fines are related to procedural problems, and do not indicate any other wrongdoing.
The IRS audit was one of several done on the county last year, and started as a compliance check, said commission president Kevin Helmick.
Those audits will likely cost the county budget over $40,000.
The Calhoun Commission does what is called "pass-throughs" for other agencies or groups for audit control, those services are provided as a courtesy.
In this case, IRS found about 50 cases where Calhoun youth, many connected to 4-H and FFA projects, received checks for the sale of livestock, and did not receive a 1099 for tax income purposes.
The Calhoun Commission did the pass-through as a courtesy to the WVU Extension Service. Commissioner Chip Westfall said, "Unfortunately, we will have to quit doing that kind of courtesy for some groups."
COMMISSION BUSINESS
- The commission went into executive session to discuss legal issues with the Calhoun prosecutor Rocky Holmes, related to a current adversarial situation that happened after the commission expressed concerns to the prosecutor regarding his failure to perform.
No decision was made regarding obtaining legal counsel related to several issues before the commission.
See PROSECUTOR HOLMES REQUESTS INVESTIGATION OF CALHOUN COMMISSION - 'You Can't Have Your Cake And Eat It Too'
- Discussed issues related to a $21,000 auto storage bill from Furr's Auto Service, with commissioner Helmick reporting that proper procedure was not followed regarding the auto, storage since 2006.
- Commissioner Chip Westfall reported that CRI has experienced a 60% cut in federal money to their weatherization program, and could have a serious impact on the agency.
- Calhoun 911/OES Director Kathy Wood reported a letter received by her from Arnoldsburg Fire Chief Derek Wright that outlines a continuing problem with fire hydrants in the greater Arnoldsburg area that remain inoperable, and could affect homeowner insurance.
- The county will be receiving a courthouse facilities grant to make some needed improvements to the roof of the structure.
- Commission approved the annual Calhoun Public Library Audit.
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