OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Results from a monthly survey of business supply managers suggest a slight decline in the economic conditions for nine Midwest and Plains states.
The Mid-America Business Conditions Index report released Thursday says the overall regional economic index dropped to 55.5 in May from 61.4 in April.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the index figures over the past six months point to healthy growth for regional manufacturing and non-manufacturing through the third quarter of this year.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County arrested two people early this (Thursday) morning on weapons charges. 18-year old Wyatt Dean Baldwin, of Villisca, and a 17-year old male were arrested at around 1:43-a.m. on felony charges of Trafficking in Stolen Weapons. Their arrests followed an incident in the 100 block of E. 4th Street in Villisca. Baldwin was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $5,000 bond. The 17-year old was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs.

Sheriff’s officials said also, that at around 8-p.m. Wednesday, 27-year old Jimmie Fred Hockett II, of Red Oak, was arrested for Driving While Suspended, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His arrest followed a traffic stop in the 1300 block of Highway 34. Hockett was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $525 bond.

A second review by the State Auditor of the automated system for titles and registration used by county treasurers and the D-O-T finds continued issues. State Auditor Mary Mosiman says this second review was prompted by a special investigation of the systems in Mills and Cerro Gordo counties. “In those reports, lack of internal controls allowed staff to circumvent controls and divert collections. And those three reports had identified undeposited collections as well as uncollected fees,” Mosiman explains.

This new review investigated the systems used in 10 random counties that varied in size. “We interviewed officials within the treasurer offices and we observed and evaluated their internal control systems,” Mosiman says. “And we’re recommending that the D-O-T implement on site monitoring of county treasurer offices so that they can verify that county treasurer staff members are operating in accordance with D-O-t policies and procedures.”

Mosiman says the procedures were not being followed for voided transactions, leaving open the possibility that the money from the transaction could be taken. “In this particular review we didn’t note that voids were allowing collections to be undeposited — but we did find that controls were not being followed,” Mosiman says.

Mosiman says the D-O-T did respond to the recommendations in the report. “The D-O-T was not opposed to reinforcing their training program. They do want to make sure that resources are in place and that they have the appropriate legal capacity to do what might need to be done,” according to Mosiman. “..the ten county treasurer offices responded positively, but again, it is a matter of individual implementation.”

Many of the smaller counties don’t have as many employees and that creates issues with having more than one person oversee transactions. Mosiman says they’ve heard of that from multiple counties — not just in this report but in regular audit work. She says that’s why it is important to put the controls in place so the necessary oversight can take place, even if there is an office with just one or two people.

Mosiman says they will continue checking to be sure the counties are following proper procedures as the move through their regular audits.

(Radio Iowa)