Material weaknesses noted in county’s comprehensive financial report
News July 13, 2022
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Chris McKellar of the CPA firm Mauldin and Jenkins presented the FY 2021 Comprehensive Annual Finance Report to the Board of Commissioners Tuesday and despite some noted weaknesses and several recommendations said, the County is to be commended since the reporting “goes above and beyond the information that is required.”
The report shows the County has $2.8 billion in total assets and $722.1 million in liabilities for a net financial position of about $2 billion.
Among the weaknesses reported, the Forsyth County Public Library did not record a reimbursable expenditure of $53,609. The firm recommended that “management establish procedures to review its reimbursable expenditures on a periodic basis to ensure any resulting revenues are recorded.”
McKellar also noted that an audit adjustment of $500,497 was required in the E911 Fund “in order to properly record revenue and receivables as of Dec. 31, 2001.” The firm recommended the County strengthen its internal controls over the revenue and receivables in accordance with General Accepted Accounting Procedures.”
There were also material weaknesses noted relating to the County’s compliance with the US Department of Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the US Department of Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
Regarding the Rental Assistance Program, McKellar said the County did not complete and submit a monthly report for August 2021 and none of the monthly reports were submitted in a timely manner.
Regarding the Coronavirus Recovery Fund, he noted the report was prepared and submitted by only one member of the county staff and was not subject to review prior to submission.
McKellar recommended for both material weaknesses that the County take neyecessary steps to ensure those responsible for the program are aware of reporting requirements and have a process in place to ensure that all reports are completed and submitted timely manner.
He stated, “The federal government wanted to get the money out to local government as quick as possible and their reporting requirements changed several times. Commissioner Cindy Mills said, “The County received the grant money before it received requirements of how to report it.”
There was also a drawdown of $154,638 from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority grant that was not included. He recommended the County Financial staff implement procedures to ensure that all drawdowns are reported to the grant staff.
BOC ends remote participation in public hearing, public comment periods
News June 25, 2022
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to discontinue allowing citizens to comment remotely during Board of Commissioners, Planning Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals public hearings and public comment periods effective Aug. 1.
The practice began during the Pandemic when attendance at meetings was very limited and has continued. However, there is no state law that requires remote participation and very few people have utilized the opportunity.
County Manager Kevin Tanner made it clear that this decision does not change the ability of the public to watch the meetings on the county’s website. “That is still available. This only pertains to the public’s ability to comment online,” he said.
Commissioner Cindy Mills said, “I think if it’s something you care enough about, you will come to the meeting.”
Levent ethics hearing scheduled Monday
News February 27, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – An ethics complaint that has consumed 10 months and cost Forsyth County taxpayers nearly $200,000 in legal fees could finally, mercifully, be decided by a Forsyth County Ethics Board Monday (Feb. 28).
The Board will meet at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Meeting Room in the County Administration Building, 110 East Main Street.
District 3 Commissioner Todd Levent is the target of the complaint which alleges he accessed Commissioner Cindy Mills email account without filing an Open Records Request.
Last May, commissioners authorized an outside agency to investigate Levent at a cost not to exceed $20,000. In August they voted 3-0 (Commissioners Levent and Mills recused) to censure him. Two weeks later, they voted to spend an unlimited amount of taxpayer dollars to hire a law firm to bring their complaint before the Ethics Board. As of December, the price tag had reached more than $180,000.
But the investigation revealed Levent did file an Open Records Request when he asked Carolyn Haag, an administrative aid to the commissioners, to retrieve the emails for him. Ga. OCGA 50-18-71 clearly points out that an Open Records Request may be made orally or in writing. The same emails can be retrieved by any citizen.
In announcing Levent’s censure, Commissioner Semanson (then Chairwoman) accused him of “obtaining un-redacted lists of current emails.” Georgia law does permit some limited redactions in response to an ORR, however it is government’s responsibility to redact the information where permitted.
Levent has said he did nothing wrong and that the investigation is a political vendetta.
He will be represented by attorney Daran Burns.
Levent ethics hearing set December 14
News December 3, 2020
Commissioner Todd Levent
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The outcome of a seven-months’ ethics investigation that will cost Forsyth County taxpayers close to $200,000 will be decided Monday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. when the county’s ethics panel meets in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room, 110 Main Street.
The investigation of District 3 Commissioner Todd Levent — which commissioners initially agreed should cost no more than $20,000 – was conducted by the law firm of Smith, Gambrell and Russell. The current cost is $168,000 with December’s invoice still outstanding.
The Board has accused Levent of accessing Commissioner Cindy Mills’ taxpayer-funded email account without her permission. Levent made a verbal request for Administrative Assistant Carol Haag to retrieve the emails for him, which she did. Commissioners contend that Levent did not file an Open Records Request for the emails. However, under Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 requests may be made verbally as well as in written form.
Coal Mountain Dog Park now open
News, Press Release November 18, 2020
PRESS RELEASE
Forsyth County, Ga. – Forsyth County officials, staff and guests gathered Tuesday, Nov. 17, to officially open the Coal Mountain Dog Park (4060 County Way). The new park is located across from the County Animal Shelter in north Forsyth.
“I look forward to seeing the special family bonds this park will help create for generations to come,” said District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills. “We hope that being so close to the shelter will encourage our community to embrace and adopt animals who still need a home.”
The park features synthetic dog turf, dog water fountains, climbing boulder, wooded areas, dog walk ramp, tunnel, sunshades, shaded benches and two family-style restrooms. The four-acre dog park is funded by donations, the Parks & Recreation Capital Funds and by SPLOST VIII.
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State, county break ground on cloverleaf interchange project at SR 369 and 400
News November 18, 2020
PRESS RELEASE
Forsyth County, Ga. – Forsyth County and state officials gathered on Tuesday, Nov. 17, to officially break ground on the widening of SR 369 as well as the creation of a grade-separated, partial cloverleaf interchange coming to the intersection of SR 400 and SR 369.
The project will widen SR 369 (also known as Brown’s Bridge Road) from a two-lane road to a four-lane road, divided by a 20-foot raised median. SR 369 will be widened from just west of SR 9 to slightly east of SR 306, approximately two miles. The project will also include sidewalk trails along both sides of SR 369. There will also be an added partial cloverleaf interchange at SR 369 and SR 400.
Details on the project can be found by visiting the Forsyth County Interactive Transportation Projects Map.
“The project will create an entirely new traffic pattern for all of north Forsyth that will have a positive ripple effect throughout the whole county,” said District 4 Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills. “Thank you to the voters of Forsyth County for making this project possible with the voter approved Transportation Bond as well as our partners at GDOT.”
The project was identified in the Forsyth County Major Transportation Plan of 2006. Funding for the intersection comes from the Forsyth County Transportation Bond, approved by voters in 2014, as well as GDOT Funding and state grants. Funding for the widening of SR 369 comes from the County Transportation Bond.
The anticipated duration of the project is 36 months with a planned opening of late 2023, weather permitting.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Study aims to address needs, preferences of citizens with developmental disabilities
News, Police & Government June 24, 2020
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Laura Brackin, Ph.D presented the results of a study aimed at assessing the needs and preferences of county residents with developmental disabilities and providing for their needs and preferences during Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners work session.
Brackin’s company, Brackin and Associates, LLC, provides training and consulting services to help clients ensure compliance with federal regulations for home and community-based services (HCBS).
“Brackin said the goal of the study was to “identify the number of people with developmental disabilities who live in Forsyth County, their current housing situation and their future housing needs.”
The study revealed a total of 3,641 people with developmental disabilities living in the county. Approximately 557 are under age 5. 1,673 range in age from 5 through 17. 1,169 are between ages 18 and 64 and 232 are over the age of 65. Brackin added that 881 are in the Forsyth County School System.
Part of the study involved a survey sent to adults with disabilities or a family member.
Results of the survey show:
- 96 percent of Forsyth County residents with disabilities live with a parent or caregiver, compared to the national average of 75 percent;
- 21 percent indicated their caregiver was over the age of 60;
- Affordable, accessible and available housing in Forsyth County is extremely limited.
“In terms of parents or family members (of a developmentally disabled person) the two most important things are safety and quality of life,” Brackin said. “Safety is not just about the location of housing, but also about the person providing care for their loved one. Quality of life involves living in Forsyth County, living close to friends and having access to recreation.”
In terms of recommendations, Larkin said she would like to meet with a small group of representatives to go over the full report in more detail.
“In general, the broad recommendation we have to make is a variety of housing is needed,” she added. “It’s not one size fits all. Increase affordable housing options and increase the number of rental assistance vouchers that are needed. Even though some of those things are not under the full control of counties, a county does have control over working with some of the state agencies to make sure the county’s needs are being met which is what our recommendation would be.”
Commissioner Cindy Mills said she would like to see an action plan. “It would be helpful if we could see a first step. We don’t have unlimited resources. In fact, our resources are very limited right now. With an action plan going forward, we could see how most communities get started.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com