MONDAMIN, Iowa (AP) — A new report by the Iowa state auditor reveals more than $70,000 in improper spending by a former city clerk of the western Iowa town of Mondamin, as well as more than $80,000 in overbilling by the city for utility services.
The report says former clerk Deborah Earleywine improperly paid herself nearly $15,000 from city payroll coffers between 2015 and 2018. The report also found Earleywine made personal purchases — including for groceries, alcohol, medications and other items — of $3,323 using the city’s credit card and nearly $6,700 in direct payments to vendors.
The audit also found that Earleywine had failed to deposit nearly $20,000 in city collections and made improper payments of more than $25,000 to the public library and nearly $20,000 to the local fire department.
The audit said the overbilling occurred because the city failed to implement procedures recommended by an earlier 2016 audit.