Former HC environmental specialist improperly reimbursed over $200K, state auditor report says

An investigation of the Henry County Environmental Health Office found a former environmental specialist to have been improperly reimbursed $200,000 from July 1, 2010, to Jan. 31, 2018.

State auditor Rob Sand released a report on a special investigation of Henry County Environmental Health on Tuesday, June 25, which revealed $218,633 of improper disbursements, much of which was reimbursed to former environmental specialist Jodi Sutter.

The investigation was requested by Henry County officials as a result of concerns regarding certain reimbursements to Sutter while she served as environmental specialist.

Sutter was terminated from her position as environmental specialist on Feb. 8, 2018, following three closed session meetings where the Board of Health began investigating receipts and expenditures for all aspects of environmental health services provided by Henry County.

According to the report from the State Auditor's Office, reimbursements to Sutter included $159,142 of improper hourly wages; $29,727 of reimbursements for an intern who did not work for the county; $7,967 of travel expenses for which Sutter did not attend the meeting listed on her reimbursement claims or incur the mileage she claimed; $3,159 for cellphones and internet services; and $11,654 of reimbursements in excess of what Sutter paid to Des Moines and Jefferson counties for work they performed in Henry County when she was not available.

The $3,810 of unsupported disbursements identified includes reimbursements for items such as ink, postage and office supplies, the report stated.

Sand reported the $6,301.00 of undeposited collections identified included $2,501.00 of checks which were not deposited within a year and became stale; $1,700.00 of undeposited fees for the inspections of septic systems and wells, and $2,000.00 of grant revenue for which expense were not submitted to the State for reimbursement under a grant.

The County overbilled the Grants to Counties program $830.31 for water samples, which were taken by a staff member who was not qualified to take samples.

Sand also reported it was not possible to determine if additional amounts were improperly disbursed or if additional fees for inspections and other services were not properly deposited because adequate documentation was not available.

Sand recommended strengthening the Board of Health's internal controls and operations such as improving the segregation of duties, maintaining supporting documentation and maintaining adequate financial records.

According to meeting minutes from a Board of Health meeting on Feb. 20, a summary of expenses incurred by Sutter since 2010 was distributed to board members. Tanning beds, tattoo parlors, pools and spas had not been inspected since June 2016. The board reached out to the Iowa Department of Public Health on how to proceed.

Since Sutter was terminated, the Regional Utility Service System (RUSS) has continued the responsibilities of environmental specialist with a 28E Agreement with Henry County.

Upon signing a 28E Agreement with RUSS, Buzz Bezoni, chair of the Board of Health said that the Board of Health has to demand accountability. 'We all know why,” he said during a meeting on Feb. 20, 2018.

The Henry County supervisors have no comment at this time.

The Board of Health has no comment at this time.

Henry County attorney Darin Stater was not available for comment.