ICCO Truth and Transparency
Fact: In June of 2022 I was approached to sit on a committee with Grant Dorman to hold two community seats on an internal audit committee. The members of this committee…Clerk Rosedale, Treasurer Koster, Assessor Gow, Coroner Beers, Sheriff Wheeler, Risk Manager Jostelin, Prosecutor Marshall.
Fact: With the support of the clerk charged with internal auditing, the stated purpose was: The board voted to spend ARPA funds. ARPA funds come with internal controls. The purpose of the committee was to provide such a frame work.
Fact: Upon reading an article in the Reader wherein comments were made about the intentions of the committee, I sent the following concerns ( I have taken a screen shot of the entire email so that you can fact check, the below are highlights)
Truncated Email Sent June 2, 2022 To All Members of the ICCO
“… I was asked to be a volunteer for the 303 coso build framework committee. The framework is a useful tool to use with compliance auditing. Although I have not been part of a meeting of the committee, I am seeing a lot of allegations from the office of the commissioners regarding the committee. “
” …..As a resident of Bonner County, I am not working to undermine elected officials, to cause division in the community or to play political chess. I volunteered, when approached, to provide my time and educational and professional background to the community.”
“…I would like to know if the chair of the 303 committee will be addressing the issues raised by the chair of the commissioners as well as their workshop statement regarding ARPA funds. Specifically?
Will the chair of the 303 committee be seeking the following?
- A transparent decision regarding spending of ARPA funds as it was stated that such funds may require the use of the COSO framework. The specific response regarding ARPA is reasonable and necessary due to statements made on June 1,2022 during a workshop.
- A written response of cooperation from the commissioners regarding supporting the build of such a framework in the same open and transparent platform from which some have spoken negatively about the members of the project and their mal intent.
- A request for information regarding whether or not such a frame work has been built or if the start of a framework has been built
- Input from the commissioners as to whether or not they have resources to assist in building the framework. Noting, Connolly made a statement of wanting a neutral person to participate with building the framework as he saw the framework specifically related to ARPA.
- Input from the commissioners as to a written time frame request for the framework and if they are budgeting for costs associated with the framework build and if so, what have they budgeted for.
Thank you in advance of your prompt response and attention to this matter. “
The above does not support the story being told by some people in the community. I clearly stated my understanding, my purpose, and my commitment to transparency and compliance. My email does not reflect a person blindly following any elected official. My email DOES reflect respect for the sitting commissioners and their authority in Bonner County.
On June 23, Sheriff Wheeler sent the following: Truncated email a jpeg attached for the full response
“.. Until there is a legal opinion given from the Prosecutor as to if or what kind of effective internal controls are in place, it would be almost impossible for the 303 sub-committee to meet and start our work. We need a foundation of facts as to what the county is or is not doing to be in compliance with COSO or Greenbook, rather than just someone’s opinion if there is compliance. So until that legal opinion is given by Louis Marshall, our committee will be in a holding pattern.”
FACT: Prosecutor Marshall never drafted any documents regarding the committee as it was disbanded by the current board.
FACT: The Prior Board Adopted Greenbook, part of COSO before they left office
FACT: Commissioner Omodt and Community Members have these emails in their possession…
WHY ARE THEY HIDING THE TRUTH?
From June 2, 2023 to June 23, 2023
Commissioners Omodt and Bradshaw voted to disband the ICCO committee. If it was not put in place by the prior board…How could they disband it?
Commissioners Omodt and Bradshaw voted for their own audit committee with a direct goal of removing my ability to perform my duties. They were informed by Louis Marshall that the committee they formed attempts to strip me of my duties. He informed them that this is not appropriate. When the legal opinion came out, I agendized the item to disband the committee due to the legal opinion and the conflicts with its communication guidelines..
Their committee is still in place… with Clerk Rosedale and Treasurer Koster.
Commissioner Williams County Blog
The present Bonner County administration seems to be totally dysfunctional with all the infighting .I still think they are acting like a bunch of toddlers arguing about who gets the rubber hammer to destroy the sandbox. I heard some one say that the chair of the Commission made a comment that there is much racial disparity on the commission. From videos of commission meetings it is obvious that that disparity is two against one.
Amen! There is an image on the Gacebook group -Bonner County Forum, that shows the seating assignments directed by one of those two Commissioners. A picture speaks a thousand words!