State audit ties three former Baxter city employees to $90,000 in improper financial transactions
By Kayla James
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BAXTER, Iowa (KCCI) — Three former Baxter city officials have been named in a state audit that shows over $90,000 of improper, unreported, or uncollected disbursements and utility bills.
The audit, released Thursday morning by the Iowa State Auditor’s Office, says more money may have been improperly dispersed, but city records were not maintained well enough to determine that.
One of those named is ex-Baxter police Chief William Daggett, who, until Thursday, was working as police chief and interim city administrator in Mitchellville. City officials in Mitchellville confirmed to KCCI that Daggett resigned Thursday morning.
The Baxter investigation claims Daggett collected over $51,000 in improper payroll costs and compensation time payments. Former City Clerk Katie Wilson and former EMS Coordinator Randi Gliem are also named in the audit.
KCCI learned Wilson is Elkhart’s city administrator and reached out to the city. The mayor informed KCCI that the city is aware of the State Auditor’s report that was released today and that, at this time, the city has no comment on the matter regarding the city of Baxter, IA.
Known improper disbursements totaling $75,000 include:
$51,275.62 of improper payroll costs and excess comp time payments, respectively, paid to Daggett $3,509.55 of improper payroll costs and excess comp time payments, respectively, paid to Wilson $1,461.09 of improper payroll costs and excess vacation balance payout, respectively, paid to Gliem $1,776.99 of improper payroll to EMS volunteers $4,050 of improper payments to a former Water Affidavit Operator $10,475.05 of improper disbursements to vendors and cash withdrawals $2,037.66 of improper purchases made with the city’s VISA credit card, late fees, and interest $487.77 of improper disbursements to vendors for police department operations. The report, which you can read here, has been filed with authorities including the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Jasper County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.
Mayor Doug Bishop provided the following statement to KCCI: “This is an ongoing criminal investigation being handled by the Auditor, DCI and County Attorney’s office. We will defer all questions to them. The City of Baxter will have no further comments at this time.”
Baxter City Administrator Lucas Battani declined to comment on the investigation.
KCCI did reach out to the Jasper County Attorney’s office and was told the county attorney was not in. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation tells KCCI it is aware of the auditor report, but cannot comment on active investigations.
Mitchellville is also the subject of an audit that was requested by the former city administrator, who was later fired over alleged personnel issues.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged the audit in a news release Thursday morning but said, due to the ongoing investigation and related legal considerations, officials would not provide any additional information or comments.
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