By TANG LOR -DN Staff Writer
Updated: 07/01/2011 10:46:45 AM PDT
The city of Red Bluff was much the focus of the Tehama County grand jury report that was released Thursday.
The findings in the five investigations that involved the city were favorable, with the exception of one investigation that was not completed.
The grand jury received a citizen complaint concerning exactly when City Manager Martin Nichols knew the city's 2009/2010 general fund revenues would be short about $1.3 million as oppose to the earlier projected deficit of $300,000.
Several City Council members, both past and present, and Nichols were interviewed, and a review of council minutes for the past two years was done. But the jury was unable to complete the investigation when former Finance Director Margaret Van Warmerdam filed a suit against the city. Nichols has said his choosing to fire Van Warmerdam had nothing to do with how she handled the finances or the dispute over the deficit.
The interview with members of the grand jury Audit and Finance Committee was brief, and he does not remember too much about it, Nichols said Thursday. He does not recall having told the grand jury he could not speak about the deficit because of the pending lawsuit, so he is unsure why the jury could not finish its investigation.
"I told them exactly what I told the newspaper," Nichols said, referring to a similar investigation of the deficit the Daily News did in August.
An investigation into where the city's reserve funds had gone found that the reserve had been used over the course of time to pay the city's regular annual bills.
No recommendations were made.
Other areas of the city the grand jury visited included the Senior Nutrition Program, Public Works and Parks and Recreation.
The nutrition program is a well run program that provides a much needed service for seniors, the jury found.
There had been a report that the city would have to pay back state grants for not completing sidewalk improvements at four parks to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The jury found steps were being taken to satisfy the ADA requirements.
The indoor recreation offerings at the Red Bluff Community and Senior Center were found to be underused.
County
In observing the ballot county process, the jury found the process was done in a place that did not allow voters to observe and the need to confirm electronic votes were time-consuming.
The jury recommends the Elections Department to be relocated as soon as possible to an area that will allow for voter observation and one that has a larger vault area to prevent any chances of fraud. The Board of Supervisors should inform state officials that counting every vote placed on the electronic machines unnecessary and a waste of money.
In regards to the Animal Regulation Department, the jury found many people need to be educated about the proper care of animals, and education opportunities need to be made available.
The jury recommends the Sheriff's Office maintain a staff of at least three officers for animal regulation and to provide information on its Website to educate people.
After an inspection of the Tehama County Jail, the jury found a serious need for additional holding and sobering cells and better ventilation for inmates cells located just outside the shower area.
Residency
The jury did an investigation into residency requirements of state political office candidates.
"Although logic dictates it is preferable to have an elected official physically in his area of representation as much as possible, the requirement for one's residency is ambiguous and at best unclear," the report stated.
The jury also found no wrong-doing by the Tehama County Election Department in how it has handled duties processing candidate applications and that the citizen complaint prompting the investigation lacked merit.
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Staff Writer Tang Lor can be reached at 527-2153, extension 110, or at tlor@redbluffdailynews.com
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/ci_18391703
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