With a new administration, the Wedowee Utilities Board has been delving into historical financial moves made by previous leadership.
In a meeting streamed online on Wednesday, utilities director Randy Benefield revealed over $670,000 in questionable vendor checks written over 12 years. While he made it clear he was not accusing anyone of criminal activity, Benefield said it is his duty to be transparent.
He revealed multiple transactions showing extra payments in addition to an employee's regular pay.
"If it's in the wrong, I feel like by the end of the year we need to go after and collect our money back with back interest," Benefield said. "It's unfair to the public for us to go to the public for money all the time when we have things. And again, I'm not saying anything was wrong, but there's questions that need to be answered."
Benefield did not reveal the name of the employee who received the funds. However, the Randolph Leader obtained documents showing matching payouts to Mayor Tim Coe from 2005 to 2017, when he served as the utility's administrator before being appointed chairman. The local newspaper confirmed with Coe that he received the checks.
Many of the payments were labeled as vendor reimbursements for mileage. No board minutes show approval for the extra payments. The Randolph Leader spoke with Coe, who said he kept up with his mileage and the payments were not excessive.
Other payments were labeled for the purchase of chemicals for the board's lagoon. The Leader reported that those were monthly payments of $3,400. Coe told the Leader that lagoon maintenance was his responsibility during that period and that he purchased the chemicals for use in the lagoon.
Benefield told the board that current chemicals used in the lagoon cost $1,700 per year.
The Wedowee Utilities Board is already under investigation by the Alabama Attorney General's Office, and a state audit has been conducted. In a local audit report, multiple discrepancies were reported earlier this year. The Wedowee Town Council has since replaced utilities board chairman Coe. Barry Waldrep was appointed the new chairman. The new board hired Benefield, who has been working to sort out the finances and provide transparency to ratepayers.
The Wedowee Utilities Board approved hiring an independent forensic auditor to analyze finances dating back to 2005.
Benefield told 1819 News he wants to personally reassure the public that both the Wedowee Utilities Board and the Wedowee Town Council share the same ultimate objective: doing what is best for the community's future. He said healthy discussions are necessary and not meant to cause "noise."
"The noise in between is simply that — noise," Benefield stated. "Our shared destination and resolve have never changed. The matters currently before us are part of a process that will take time. Given today's judicial backlog, it may be years before every legal question is fully resolved. Along the way, additional facts may come to light, and there will undoubtedly be moments that feel like setbacks. However, I believe those moments are not steps backward. They are opportunities to uncover the truth, strengthen our institutions, improve our processes, and build a more solid foundation for future generations."
Benefield said he is confident that accountability, transparency and perseverance will prevail.
"Those choices will help make Wedowee stronger, more resilient and better prepared for the opportunities that lie ahead," Benefield added.
Waldrep said anyone with dissenting information is welcome to come forward. In a small town, he said the facts that have come to light have caused awkward moments, but he said the utility board is committed to transparency.
"As I said directly to the town council on July 7, we all have a duty to let the people know the facts above our personal relationships," Waldrep said. "I also asked the mayor and the council if any of them had any issues with the new utility board and administration. The answer was no from all. I have said this over and over. If anyone wants to see the facts or ask questions, then come to us. We never present anything other than the facts; I don't see why anyone would have a problem with that."
Waldrep said the board is responsible for public funds and will ensure all actions are publicly disclosed.
"If we did not disclose it, we would be accused of sweeping things under the rug, in which we would be," he added. "So, what do you prefer: disclosing or sweeping? And ask yourself this right before the next time you click that social media keyboard: 'Do I really want to know the facts or do I just want to throw out an opinion of what I truly do not know or understand?' If you have details contradicting what we disclose, bring it."
No criminal charges have been filed.
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