County Advised To Pay Accountant

Bonner County can’t get out of paying certified public accountant Mike Merrell for his extra work on the county’s 1997 audit, county prosecutors say.

Merrell charged the county $2,625 for investigating an ethical violation that occurred during the audit. Shortly before the audit was delivered to the county, County Clerk Marie Scott talked to one of Merrell’s employees about a job prospect in her department.

Although the state Board of Accountancy determined that the discussion was an ethical violation, they did not find that it changed the outcome of the audit.

County commissioners have refused to pay Merrell for his investigation and an addendum to the official audit. But in a memo sent this week to commissioners, County Prosecutor Phil Robinson and Deputy Prosecutor John Topp have advised commissioners that they are obligated to pay.

Commissioner Bud Mueller said he plans to argue - possibly at today’s commissioners meeting - that Scott should pay the bill, not the county.