Panel is eyeing audit of sheriff's department

By Steve Sharp of the Daily Times staff
Friday, May 30, 2008 12:43 PM CDT

JEFFERSON - The Jefferson County Administration and Rules Committee agreed this week that two finalist firms should be interviewed for the job of performing an operational audit of the county's sheriff's department.

The administration and rules committee, with members Paul Babcock, Jim Braughler, Jim Mode, Steve Nass and Chairwoman Sharon Schmeling, agreed Wednesday that Virchow Krause and Northwestern University should visit for interviews to determine which will perform best for the county.

“The county issued a request and received proposals for audits from four consulting firms,” Jefferson County Administrator Gary Petre said. “These were reviewed by the sheriff's department management staff, myself and a management analyst. We then submitted a recommendation to the law enforcement and emergency management committee.”

The law enforcement and emergency management committee met late last week and recommended that Virchow Krause be hired to perform that audit. The law enforcement committee approved that hiring by a 3-1 vote this week. However, no action was taken by the administration and rules committee members. They directed staff to schedule a joint meeting of themselves and the law enforcement committee to interview the two finalists Virchow Krause and Northwestern University, which is based in Evanston, Ill.

“So we are in the process of scheduling that meeting,” Petre said. “We would hope to have a proposal for a contract ready at the county board's July meeting. Then the consulting firm could start with its audit anytime after that.”

ADVERTISEMENT

A monthly status report was also provided on the realignment of the county's finance department function.

“The county's management analyst is working closely with (Jefferson County Clerk) Barb Frank to identify all the activities in the county clerk's office to determine what the staffing requirements will be to move the finance function from the clerk's to the county administrator's office,” Petre said. He noted that before the county can do this, it has to identify what the employees are doing in the clerk's office related to the finance matters, as well as what kind of time it takes and what effect it has on staffing.

“A director of finance may also be formed,” Petre said, “and Barb's duties would change.”

Petre also provided a report to the administration and rules committee concerning possible changes to the reporting relationship of the veterans service officer Yvonne Duesterhoeft.

“This is very similar to the other changes we made to the reporting relationships in other areas and this would change the reporting relationship of the veteran's service officer. She would no longer report to the county administrator, but would report to the human service director,” Petre said.

He noted the county is trying to realign the management reporting structure for many of its departments, so it doesn't have so many reporting to the county administrator.

“Proper management reporting would dictate that you have in the neighborhood of five to 10 people reporting to you, whereas currently there are 22,” Petre said. “It certainly is one of the issues I discussed as part of my work plan when I accepted this position in talking with the administration and rules committee.”