East Central Reporter

The ongoing situation in Shelby County regarding the transparency of the Dive Team Forensic Audit remains unresolved. The board chairman has yet to present this audit, still labeled as a "Draft," for approval during a public meeting. This has led to growing concerns about the promised transparency from recently elected officials.

The issue originated with a subpoena for draft audit documents, not yet reviewed by the board. This situation stirred claims of opaqueness by the former chairman and accusations that the board lacked openness.

Recently, the board received the audit, but Chairman Mayhall and the board members have yet to discuss or approve it. Verification requests for the audit's authenticity were made to three elected officials. However, only the County Treasurer confirmed its authenticity.

The audit mentions unresponded requests for supporting documents, leaving County Board member and Dive Commander Austin Prichard responsible for providing such information. These requests have also led to several lawsuits under the Freedom of Information Act.

Questions about the audit's independence have surfaced due to perceived connections between the auditing firm and Edgar County Watchdogs. Doubts about auditor reliability were highlighted, with former Chairman Bruce Canon defending the integrity of a CPA's role.

The restrictions around the audit and the failure to address its details suggest a lack of leadership, according to critics. The technique for acquiring the audit remains confidential, designed to protect whistleblowers by maintaining their anonymity. The audit's legitimacy was confirmed only by the treasurer following its receipt from the auditors.

In related concerns, a story concerning the alleged lack of transparency regarding a farm lease will be forthcoming. Further developments are expected to shed more light on the transparency commitments in Shelby County.