Audit finds Grafton’s revenue up

By Editor | October 18, 2023 |

By Cory Davenport

The mostly positive conclusions of an independent third-party audit of the City of Grafton were front and center at the Grafton Village Board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and unanimous approval of the Sept. 2023 board meeting minutes. Public comment was used by Grafton Chamber of Commerce President Jamie Clayton regarding a survey being spread online by folks regarding the current Grafton Ferry and possible expansion of services. A future meeting on that subject is expected in early November with updates. Clayton said as many as 450 people have taken the survey, which is more than the 400 required minimum.

Suzanne Steckel of Zumbahlen, Eyth, Surratt Foote & Flynn LTD of Jacksonville handed the board large packets at the beginning of the meeting and presented her findings during it. The findings she presented were based on the previous financial year, which concluded on April 30, 2023. According to the findings, Grafton’s balance is improving. The city found itself in the black with the conclusion of the previous financial year by around $38,000 in the general fund.

According to the findings, Grafton’s revenue was around $1.58 million, around $170,000 higher from the previous year. A lot of that income came from grants from the state and federal level, including a state grant for sidewalk improvement in Grafton Hills and a federal grant from 2019 floods. The city’s main expenses for the year included replacing several big ticket items such as sidewalks, culverts, mowers, and even a dump truck. These unexpected expenses resulted in around $415,000 in spending from Grafton last year. These may have contributed to Grafton finding itself $103,000 in excess of its budget, despite the modest profit.

In the future, Steckel advised Grafton continued working toward segregation of duties within the city. The same folks who process the bills shouldn’t also be paying them, Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow explained following Steckel’s presentation. Steckel said she expected that issue gone next year at Grafton’s current rate of improvement. While the firm does not specifically seek out fraud, Steckel said none of the cash flow handled in the audit seemed to have any marks of fraud. If they did, Steckel said she would have advised the Grafton board accordingly.

“This is basically good news,” Morrow said. “It has been a long-standing issue not finding enough people to manage the segregation of duties. Kudos to our finance committee to championing separation of services.”

Morrow described the findings as “good financial oversight” before the board voted unanimously to approve the treasurer’s report.

Jake Weber then presented for Grafton’s Public Works Department, showcasing a lot of the concrete work done in Grafton Hills. He also displayed some large voids beneath some of the roads needing work, adding he was “really surprised they haven’t collapsed with all the concrete trucks.” Fortunately for all involved, the roadways maintained despite the large, vacuous voids, and they were subsequently filled with concrete. Weber said the largest required an entire cement truck’s worth to properly fill it and hold. Currently, they are awaiting drying and removal of cones.

He also showcased several projects done around town using recycled goods, including rebuilding rotted out bathrooms at Mason Hollow with reclaimed wood and surplus vinyl flooring.

“We got a lot of reclaimed wood from the city cleanup,” he said. “A lot of people had some really good wood they were throwing out, so we kept it at public works and used it for this project.”

The bathrooms, which were previously rotting, were also hard lined to the sewer. Weber also showed a handrail to the zipline offices, rules and light instructions displayed at the pickleball courts and a guardrail shored against the elements following a large amount of erosion. Weber was followed by Scott Weiner of SMS Engineers who credited Stutz Excavation of Alton for excavation of the Grafton Hills project.

Mayor Morrow delivered his report, celebrating the unveiling of the National Memorial of Military Ascent as well donations expected from the Mustache March 4PD event Wednesday, Oct. 18, during which the Grafton Police Department will accept a donation.

Grafton Board Representative Andy Jackson revealed some upcoming holiday events, including Witches on the Water, which has already garnered 950 paid witches. Jackson said he would not be surprised to see as many as 2,000 in attendance, and told all at the meeting to make sure local businesses would be prepared.

He added Christmas decorations would be on display after Nov. 24, including a Santa sleigh designed for photo opportunities. On Dec. 2 Santa himself will be at Grove Park to see kids with refreshments provided by Jersey State Bank. On Dec. 9 anyone who wants to be Santa is called to don their most St. Nick inspired apparel and join with their comrades in a white-bearded, red army to take a massive group photo. Last year, Jackson claimed as many as 300 Santas took a group photo at the Loading Dock, which was a third of the Santas in town that day. Finally, on Dec. 12, Jackson said the Grafton Chamber of Commerce would be holding its annual state dinner at Pere Marquette Lodge.

Prior to adjournment, the board unanimously approved Morrow’s appointment of Warren Gohl, a Native American Indian traditional practitioner to the Veteran’s Commission. Gohl is a Chicago native and Vietnam veteran who is affiliated with several indigenous groups and leads a sweat lodge ritual for veterans. Gohl will serve as chaplin on the commission. They also unanimously approved retired Col. Kevin Golinghorst to the commission to serve as a military liaison and consultant for immersive technologies.

Following those appointments, the board unanimously approved Ordinance 768, which would require taxes and fines collected to be placed into the general fund. Following its passage, the board unanimously ruled to adjourn.