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Show l- flnornoy findo ouidonec inoEif fieicnt County Attorney John J Christiansen In a letter to the Beaver City Council last week said he found Insufficient Insuf-ficient evidence to file charges char-ges In the shortage of $5,885.64 In city funds brought to the attention of the Council earlier in the audit of the City finances by CPA Floyd Pickering. However, he concurred with Pickering that internal control procedures be modified mod-ified to avoid similar Instances In-stances in the future. The letter said that large amounts of money were kept at the city office for long periods of time. This makes it difficult if not impossible to separate cash received from cash deposited. Additional Ad-ditional complications result from the fact that at least three persons, maybe more, were involved in receiving these cash payments. Presently, Christiansen wrote, it is not possible to determine how the shortages occurred or who is responsible. respon-sible. Due to the loose manner in which the money was being held, chances are slim that any criminal action could be proven. He cited three items that would be necessary in a criminal action: (1) that the shortage exists; (2) the RDBcific person who has taken ta-ken money with out authority; author-ity; and (3) that the intent was to take the money for a private purpose. In his opinion, the latter two could not be proven at this time. He suggested J that Beaver City consider civil action to recover the loss. Council decided to consider consid-er this option until the January Jan-uary 5th meeting. The Council took action to adjust utility rates in an effort ef-fort to release sewer grant funds being held up by the Environmental Protection Agency. One of EPA's requirements re-quirements Is that the sewer fund be self-supporting. Council raised all rates approximately 15 bringing the residential rate from $3.50 up to $4.00 per month. Adjustments to the electric elec-tric rate schedule added an all-electric rate, approximately approxi-mately 16 percent below the regular residential rate. It is hoped residents will use electricity instead of burning burn-ing wood as they have in the past to supplement their electricity, and use the surplus sur-plus electricity the city has available. The new residential residen-tial rates will be 7-17 percent per-cent below UP&L. Commercial, commercial space heating, air conditioning condition-ing and outdoor lighting will remain the same. Irrigation Pumpers will get a reduction to approximately H percent above UP&L. They have been paying 39 percent higher. It's expected that UP&L's new rate Increase will bring them right in line with UP&L. It Is expected that these adjustments, along with the sale of 1000 kw to Logan, will forstall any new rate increases in-creases , except those related relat-ed to inflationary costs. |