[0:17] All right, it's 5 o'clock. We will now open the Financial Management Board.

[0:22] open the Financial Management Board. Meeting.

[0:23] Let the record show that the mayor is not with us tonight.

[0:27] Other than that, everybody else is here. I have asked Mr.

[0:31] McNeece if he would do the prayer and Mr. Previti if he'd lead us in the pledge.

[0:37] Let's bow. Our gracious, loving Heavenly Father,

[0:40] we're thankful for this beautiful day of life that you've given us.

[0:44] Help us, Father, to always realize that every good and perfect gift Truly does

[0:49] every good and perfect gift Truly does come

[0:49] down from thee. Father,

[0:50] we're thankful to be here tonight to take part in the business of the county,

[0:55] and we just pray, Father, that you would continue to be with us and,

[0:59] and all leaders throughout the world, that, Father,

[1:02] they will always look to you for guidance.

[1:05] We're thankful, Father,

[1:06] for the ones that will be finishing their terms tonight and the many years of

[1:11] dedicated service and that they have given this county, and we pray, Father,

[1:16] your richest blessings upon them. Amen.

[1:18] Father, for those that will be coming on board, and we're thankful, Father,

[1:23] for them and their willingness and,

[1:25] and the sacrifice that they will be making in the future.

[1:29] And we just pray, Father, your blessings upon them as well.

[1:32] Father, we're thankful for the country in which we live,

[1:36] even though there are problems from time to time.

[1:39] Father, we enjoy many freedoms,

[1:41] and for those that are willing to serve and lay their lives on the line so that we

[1:46] can continue to maintain those freedoms. We're grateful for them.

[1:50] Father, for the leaders of this country and leaders throughout the world,

[1:54] for those that are striving to do what is right,

[1:57] we pray your blessings upon them and, and the safety upon them and their families.

[2:02] And but once again, Father, help us to always look to thee for guidance.

[2:07] That's right.

[2:08] For those that are struggling and having health problems this evening, we just

[2:12] health problems this evening, we just pray,

[2:12] Father, that you bless them, that their health might be restored back to them.

[2:16] Others that might be bereaved or cast down in any way, we just pray, Father,

[2:20] that you'd bless and comfort them.

[2:22] Continue to be with us on throughout this night and on throughout our future walks

[2:26] of life. And Father, when we come to the end of life's way,

[2:29] we pray for grace and we pray for mercy that we can come and live with you

[2:33] forevermore. In Christ's name we pray, amen.

[2:35] Everyone, please join me in the pledge to our flag. Pledge of Allegiance.

[2:41] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[2:47] United States of America and to the Republic

[2:48] for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,

[2:52] with liberty and justice for all. All right, thank you, Randy. Thank you, Eric.

[2:58] Appreciate that. Uh, item number 4, review and approval of the meeting agenda.

[3:04] Any changes? I have a motion from Eric. Second? Ms.

[3:08] Grodi, all those in favor say aye.

[3:10] Aye.

[3:11] Let the record note— show it passes unanimously.

[3:14] Item number 5, review and approval of minutes from July 20th regular meeting.

[3:19] Are there any corrections, additions, deletions, or alterations?

[3:23] Hearing none, they'll stand approved as circulated.

[3:26] Item number 6, do we have anybody for public comment?

[3:29] All right, we're going to go on to item number 7.

[3:32] Item number 7, Office of Financial Management report. Mr. LaColombe.

[3:37] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[3:38] We're at a pivotal time during the Office of Financial Management's usual season.

[3:43] We got our budget back approved from the state.

[3:46] You all know that, that's why these amendments tonight are going forward to

[3:51] amendments tonight are going forward to the full

[3:52] commission and are able to be approved.

[3:54] Additionally, we ran our first big 10-month payroll that went out last

[3:58] 10-month payroll that went out last Friday,

[3:59] and all school employees were paid, and everything looks, looks good.

[4:03] We're moving forward. And that's how you want to be.

[4:07] Usually, that first payroll, you get some calls, you know, some concern.

[4:11] We address any calls and any emails we get.

[4:14] If somebody is worried, give us a call, email us, we'll take care of you,

[4:19] but I literally did not hear anything, and that's the best sound.

[4:23] When a finance office is doing a good job, everybody's quiet.

[4:27] When a finance office is doing a bad job, everybody's Pissed, just to be blunt, uh,

[4:32] you know, because, you know,

[4:34] it's their livelihood and we care about it and think of it that same way.

[4:38] We know how important it is.

[4:40] We are in the middle of our year-end close,

[4:43] so we have now stopped doing checks for accounts payable,

[4:47] and we'll take those on a case-by-case basis so that we can wrap things up,

[4:51] get everything reeled in, and close the books.

[4:54] We are ahead of where we were last year, which gives us more time for review.

[4:59] But counting the minutes, every minute is precious to us before August 31st,

[5:04] which is the last day we have to close the books. We plan on doing so before that.

[5:09] That's a Monday, so it would be good to have them closed before then,

[5:14] so we're focused on that.

[5:15] Our internship period with our intern, today was her last day.

[5:19] She's going back to college and gave us a presentation as part of the internship,

[5:24] on feedback for the program,

[5:26] and we gave her professional development feedback for her as well,

[5:30] and I think it's been really successful,

[5:33] and I definitely told her after she graduates in December to give us a call if

[5:38] graduates in December to give us a call if we

[5:38] have any openings. We would love to add her to our team,

[5:42] so really happy with that process.

[5:44] They were able to give us some key help as well during this closed period,

[5:49] which I think was worth every dollar,

[5:51] so thank you to you all and to the full commission for approving that.

[5:55] I'd also like to take a moment to honor our chairman tonight, Gwynne Evans.

[6:00] We had something for you.

[6:02] It did not come in today,

[6:03] but Gwynne has been the chairman of the Financial Management Board since 2018.

[6:08] He is one of 2 chairmen I have reported to and worked for on the Financial

[6:13] Management Board, Scott Sumner being the first one, and I'm really thankful.

[6:18] We're really going to miss his leadership.

[6:21] Thank you.

[6:21] on this board, and I'd just like to give him a round of applause for his service.

[6:27] Gwynne, you have allowed me to lead my department and answered my phone calls

[6:33] department and answered my phone calls when

[6:33] I've needed guidance.

[6:35] You have supported our office, and I just can't thank you enough.

[6:39] And, and you're— whoever takes that role is going to have some big shoes to fill.

[6:45] Uh, Gwynne, you're going to be very missed.

[6:49] Thank you, sir.

[6:49] Appreciate it. Um, all right, happy to answer any questions on our office report.

[6:55] Any questions for Doug? Nobody?

[6:58] All right, we'll go on to item number 8,

[7:02] policies.

[7:03] We have one policy on the agenda for you tonight.

[7:07] Uh, this is a small change that was supposed to go through in April.

[7:11] It just didn't get, uh, looped in.

[7:14] The one change to the policy— or sorry, 2 changes to the policy.

[7:18] One is the Visa IntelliLink system is no longer existent.

[7:22] The company upgraded to a different software,

[7:25] and so I have decided to remove that from the expense report portion of the policy.

[7:31] And there it is.

[7:32] Yes, actually.

[7:33] And so that you can just turn them in.

[7:36] And so that makes the policy stronger no matter what software change happens.

[7:42] The second thing is, under Title 5, for the laws of the purchasing agent,

[7:47] nobody shall make a purchase without a valid purchase order,

[7:52] and so we have removed the only required on purchases greater than $50 from the

[7:58] policy because every purchase should require a purchase order.

[8:02] So we've removed that. I'm happy to answer any questions.

[8:07] All right, anybody, any questions for Doug on the policies?

[8:11] You need a motion to approve that?

[8:14] All right, so moved. Motion from Mr. Previti, second by Mr. Bridenbaugh.

[8:19] Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Opposed by like sign.

[8:24] Let the record show motion passes unanimously.

[8:27] Item number 9, new business, GovDeals update.

[8:30] These are all items that are, um,

[8:33] An acknowledgment just informing you all that we have surplused and sold these

[8:39] that we have surplused and sold these items

[8:39] and are listing these items on in the future,

[8:43] so those are listed there for transparency. Happy to answer any

[8:47] transparency. Happy to answer any questions.

[8:48] Do I wish we'd have gotten more than $52 for the cubicles?

[8:53] Yeah, yeah, I do, but also really glad to have them gone because Because where we

[8:59] had 2 people sitting, we now have 4, and it's working.

[9:03] We call it the AHQ, Accountant's Headquarters, and it's really—

[9:08] our office had functioned better with it.

[9:11] So happy to free up some space and make our space usable for a longer period of

[9:17] time. Those cubicles were old, over 26 years old.

[9:21] Mm-hmm.

[9:21] So they had been used a lot. happy somebody took them off our hands.

[9:27] So, all right, any questions?

[9:29] All right, seeing none, item B, financial director performance evaluation.

[9:35] Doug and I met after everybody turned in their, uh, reports.

[9:39] We— he and I went through them, answered what few—

[9:43] answered everybody's questions or concerns or thoughts,

[9:47] but basically It just says Doug's amazing, and his staff is amazing,

[9:52] what y'all have done. I know Eric and Mr.

[9:55] Stovall and some others have been around, Mr.

[9:59] McNeece, and some of us have been around when things didn't run so smoothly.

[10:04] But since Doug has come on and taken the helm,

[10:08] and if you don't think life is no fun when your budget goes crooked or you're,

[10:14] you know, you get 11 audit findings or you get people trying to change things on a

[10:20] computer in the middle of the night, you lose a lot of sleep,

[10:24] and what is the number one thing that I saw in every one of the evaluations was

[10:30] thank you for the job you've done and for the people that you have brought on board,

[10:37] cross-trained, make sure that no matter what, we keep going,

[10:41] and that has been a phenomenal change Since you have taken over.

[10:46] Um, I— you've made our lives easy, you guys, all of you.

[10:50] And, um, this is the biggest part, you know, this is the—

[10:54] money is what can get you in more trouble than anything, quicker than anything.

[11:00] And the fact that we don't have to worry about that, uh, it might— I mean,

[11:06] you're gonna have hiccups, but if you weren't around pre-Doug,

[11:10] you don't know what hiccups were.

[11:13] Seriously, and I won't go into detail, probably get sued or something.

[11:18] But anyway, but it's just your team you have put together.

[11:22] You've made our jobs— y'all have made our jobs a million times.

[11:27] They have found ways to generate money off interest. They have gotten creative.

[11:33] They have saved the taxpayers of this county millions and millions of dollars.

[11:39] And have saved. There's been—

[11:41] we've not had to have the tax increases because of those savings, refinancing

[11:47] because of those savings, refinancing loans,

[11:47] the savings of the interest.

[11:49] All that adds up to we don't have to burden the taxpayers with a tax increase.

[11:55] And your group has done a phenomenal job of saving money for the taxpayers.

[12:01] And if those of you that out there that, you know, you fuss about your tax bill,

[12:07] And I agree, I fuss about mine too,

[12:09] but if it wasn't for the group that you've got working for you here in the financial

[12:16] department, it'd be a whole lot more than what it is.

[12:20] So Doug and guys, thank y'all, thank all your bunch.

[12:23] But we did, we talked about it, but all in all, keep doing what y'all are doing.

[12:29] I think that was just what the consensus of what everybody that turned in their

[12:35] evaluations. I'd open the floor to anybody who has— Mr. Previti, you're up next.

[12:41] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[12:43] You notice all those nice things he said before you because he saw this agenda item

[12:46] on there, so I didn't know if that skewed your commentary any or not just now, but,

[12:50] you know, absolutely, Doug, thank you for you and your department, and I'll—

[12:54] I've got some remarks about the Financial Management Board here before we adjourn

[12:58] tonight, but you and your department, incredible. Thanks for what y'all do.

[13:02] And he's absolutely right with everything he just said.

[13:04] Thank you, Chair.

[13:05] All right. Yes, sir.

[13:07] Mr. Chairman, I would like to point out, without my team,

[13:11] we wouldn't do any of this stuff.

[13:13] We have some really good people working for our office,

[13:16] and it's our job and our mission to earn it every day. So I appreciate that.

[13:21] I went over the comments on each review, as Gwynne said,

[13:25] and I also got the pointers from them as well.

[13:28] on how to improve, and I thank you for that feedback.

[13:31] Yeah, I'm aware of some of the results I look at,

[13:35] and I know that I'm measured by those things and constantly working on those

[13:40] things and constantly working on those things,

[13:40] but your input matters and helps us be better as well.

[13:43] So I read that and I took that into account and will work every day.

[13:48] And one thing I know, y'all are young guys and you've got a young group, which is—

[13:54] that's really a benefit.

[13:56] That means y'all are going to be around hopefully for a long time.

[14:00] But let me just give you an old man's little piece of advice, especially Ben,

[14:06] and I gave this to Doug. And, you know, don't let the job mess up family time.

[14:11] You know, when Doug and I had this—

[14:14] when his little one came and he asked about cutting back on coming to every

[14:19] about cutting back on coming to every meeting,

[14:20] you don't have to be at every meeting.

[14:23] You know, but I guarantee you, at the end of the day,

[14:26] whatever vote's taken or whatever's said pales into what you would have missed if

[14:32] you'd have been home with that little girl or those little girls.

[14:37] So we appreciate what you do. And like I say, 16 years here, 10 years with the

[14:43] say, 16 years here, 10 years with the city.

[14:43] My daughter sat on the back row at many a city meeting Playing when where I should

[14:49] have been was at home. But those are some of the sacrifices you do make.

[14:54] But it's an important job. Y'all do a great job.

[14:57] But just from an old man who's made his mistakes, I'm going to try to, you know,

[15:03] try to make sure that you—

[15:05] Remember what's important.

[15:07] Couldn't have said it better. Thanks, guys. Thanks for all your, all your bunch.

[15:11] Any other questions, comments, thoughts on the subject?

[15:14] Seeing none, sir.

[15:15] Seeing none. All right, item number 10, old business. None.

[15:21] Item number 11, public comment. Item number 12, announcements.

[15:28] We'll have a 6 o'clock public hearing and meeting at 6:30. Mr.

[15:34] Previti, you go ahead.

[15:36] I'm gonna go last.

[15:37] Oh, he was going to adjourn.

[15:38] Oh, okay. Um, Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[15:41] So, first, I want to sit here and thank the 2014 to 2018 Board of Education and

[15:46] the 2014 to 2018 Board of Education and the

[15:46] 2014-2018 County Commission because we're the ones— this commission,

[15:50] we're the ones that passed that, the Financial Management Act.

[15:54] Its generic, broader term is the '81 Act, the Financial Act of 1981.

[15:59] When I first got elected in 2014, I I had seen—

[16:02] I had worked at the Board of Education in the central office,

[16:06] so it's not the Board of Education, it's central office,

[16:09] and there was a lot of corruption going on with purchasing there,

[16:13] and I tried to bring attention to it and had issues with that.

[16:17] But anyhow, when I read up the laws and everything, and we were on the '50s—

[16:22] was it the '56 Act? Was that what it was called then?

[16:25] '57 Act.

[16:26] '57 Act. And so, looking at the '81 Act, you know, it's still a 40-year-old act

[16:31] you know, it's still a 40-year-old act now,

[16:31] but, you know, it just looked like it was going to be a better fit for us to get

[16:36] management of what was going on with issues that we had in our own departments,

[16:42] plus issues with central office, and so I was the one that brought that.

[16:46] Now, it had been discussed by other commissions in the past,

[16:50] but it never really had any teeth into it to take off.

[16:54] We can thank previous administrations to finally bring it to a head where we had to

[16:59] do something, so I'm very proud that we can say that we did that,

[17:03] and And just remember your history, guys,

[17:06] and it's been an honor to serve on this board.

[17:09] We've— a lot of good things have come from it, and we have—

[17:13] we know so much more information about the school board and the central office and

[17:18] their operations, and like I said,

[17:21] thanks to all those bodies working together to make that happen for the

[17:25] together to make that happen for the betterment

[17:26] of Murray County, so I do thank everybody for their time and their services and

[17:31] appreciate y'all.

[17:32] Thank you.

[17:33] Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[17:33] Thank you, sir. Any other comments, announcements? Uh, have a motion to

[17:39] announcements? Uh, have a motion to adjourn.

[17:39] Second by Mr. Moore. All those in favor may leave. Thank y'all.

[17:44] Thank y'all very much for all you—

[17:46] Back at 6.

[17:48] Be back at 6.

Financial Management Board

Transcript