Debra Harmon Named To Airway Council

Debra Harmon was appointed to a vacancy on the Airway Heights City Council last week.

She fills a seat left open when former Councilman Brian Grady was elected mayor.

Grady defeated former Mayor Don Harmon, Debra Harmon’s ex-husband, last November.

“I’d have to say she is the most qualified,” said Don Harmon.

Debra Harmon was not available for comment.

The council rejected two other nominations when it named Debra Harmon to the council.

Nominations of Verne Patten, who also ran for mayor last year, and John Holloway, an unsuccessful candidate for City Council, died for a lack of votes.

In other business, Airway Heights city management received a clean audit in a newly released financial statement from the state auditor.

A year ago, the city was criticized for failing to have sufficient internal controls over cash receipts.

The auditor also called for better controls on utility billings and improved internal controls over contracts with the West Plains Service and Development Association, which formerly ran the community center.

All of those problems were corrected in the latest audit.

“We were very thrilled,” said outgoing City Administrator Mike Patterson.

The latest audit covered 1996. In recent years, the state auditor has pushed cities and other local government bodies to improve internal controls on financial transactions.

, DataTimes