An audit commissioned by the by the Kanawha County Commission shows the Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department has several issues with their bookkeeping, and several issues are still unresolved.
The audit was requested last fall, after fuel bills went unpaid from the department, and questions were raised about the role taxpayer dollars played in paying for a for profit bingo hall operated out of the fire department.
In a heated exchange between Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department Chief P.J. Johnson and Kanawha County Commissioner Dave Hardy, new details of the department's admitted bookkeeping mistakes were brought to light.
Through bingo, raffles and video lottery, the department brings in more than $1 million annually. Much of it then is given out in cash prizes. The issue, however, is how that money is tracked. According to the audit, the money is not accurately tracked.
"How in the world can you expect to go through millions of dollars and not have an updated set of books?" asked Hardy.
Accountants for the department told the commission they were told by Johnson not to cooperate with auditors, as much of the information being requested was personal financial records.
They did admit accounting errors had been made.
Johnson said the perceived problems came from a lack of communication between the commission and the fire department, and their unwillingness to speak directly.
"(Commissioner Dave) Hardy instead of calling and talking to us, he asks all of his questions through the media, which upset our members," said Johnson.
The audit lists 18 areas where the department did not cooperate with auditors.
Johnson agreed to have the paperwork to the county by Monday afternoon.
"I know our books are clean," said Johnson. "We just had a (certified public accountant) and our lawyer says that. I don't know what's going on here. I don't know what they're after. That's the big picture. What are they after?"
David Iversen -- WOWK-TV
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