WINNSBORO – Town Council received a preliminary report on its year-end audit Tuesday night from Bill Hancock, a CPA with the Brittingham, Brown, Prince and Hancock accounting firm.
“We found no instances of non-compliance with the Town’s internal control, nor any significant deficiencies that we consider to be material weaknesses,” Hancock reported. “The Town took in $15 million in revenue, and the net assets were $381,000 after paying all the bills and accounting for all the depreciation on the capital assets.”
Hancock complimented the Town, saying it appears the Town took care and diligence with its budget – both in planning and in exercising discipline when it came to spending.
Hancock said he expects to deliver a final, complete report on the audit in a couple of weeks.
In other business, Council approved the following requests for capital expenditures:
Water Plant – Council voted to replace an air scour blower ($4,000), plant emergency lights ($2,500), to purchase a chlorine gas cylinder scales ($20,000) and to overhaul of a large pump motor (estimated at $20,000). Town Manager Don Wood asked that a portion of $53,000 previously approved for a filter valve replacement be released for the repair of the large pump motor.
“The cost may exceed or be less than the estimated $20,000,” Wood said, “but we’re going to realize considerable savings by overhauling instead of replacing the pump. The total should not exceed the $53,000.”
Gas Water and Sewer Department – Council accepted the high bid of $39,250 for a backhoe that Wood said was badly needed. He said he felt the service availability and service contract as well as fewer hours of use justified the higher price.
Public Safety – Council granted permission to proceed with accepting bids for the immediate replacement of the roof on the Public Safety building. Wood said the Town had received an estimate of $65,000, but that it would still be put out for bid.
Council also approved unanimously a request by Danny Miller for the Eastern Star group to be allowed to use the Old Armory in April for a scholarship fundraiser event.
After an executive session to discuss legal and contractual matters regarding water and sewer (Mid County Water Co., Fairfield County and Blythewood, et. Al.), Council took two votes. It voted, first, to pass a resolution to extend the 1994 water service agreement with Mid-County Water Company for a period of 60 days after its expiration on Feb. 15. According to the resolution, this will allow the Town and Mid-County time to negotiate a new wholesale water agreement or allow continued service for 12 months under a separation of service plan approved by DHEC.
Council also awarded the Wateree Construction Company the contract to build the Blythewood pump station at a cost of $374,500, half of which will be paid by the Town of Winnsboro and half by Fairfield County.
