Auditor: Spangle Failed To Collect For Work In/Around: Spangle

A state audit report criticizes the town of Spangle for four financial irregularities in billing for water and sewer service.

Town officials said they are working to resolve the problems.

The audit covers the town’s financial affairs for 1994 and 1995.

In one case, the town failed to collect a $1,500 bill for water service to a motel that closed in the 1980s. The town never filed a lien against the property.

Mayor John Logan said he’s turned the case over to the town attorney, who is taking legal action to recover the money from the property owner.

In another case, the state auditor alleges the Town Council approved installation of water and sewer lines to the property of Bill Sievers but never collected for the installation on private property in 1993. The audit said the amount in question is $9,410.

Sievers, who currently serves on the Town Council, said he paid for the contractor’s work on his private property, but the city paid for installation of the lines along a half-block of alley leading to his home.

He said the installation on his property cost him $1,200.

Logan said the council is investigating the issue to determine who should pay what for the installation.

In another case, the Town Council approved repairs to a water line on private property in 1994 but failed to collect on the bill of $509.

In the fourth case, the council approved installation of a water line on private property but did not bill the property owner the $415 expense.

The town, which has about 245 residents, is seeking payment in those two cases.

, DataTimes