WOODVILLE – The Woodville City Council received the findings of its audit for the 2023-24 fiscal year, and the verdict was that all is well with the city’s handling of its finances.
Susan Murrell, a partner and CPA with Axley-Rode, gave the report, and presented an unmodified opinion, which is the optimal report for an audit. An unmodified, or unqualified opinion, states that an entity, or company’s, financial statements are accurate and fairly represent its performance.
Murrell told the council, at its regular monthly meeting on Monday evening, that there were no recorded material weaknesses and no findings.
Overall, the city had $8.3 million in its net position for governmental activities and just in excess of $16 million in business activities, Murrell said.
In its governmental funds, the city lost about $300K during the period the audit covered, which was largely due to the renovations to city hall and for a pair of truck purchases, according to City Administrator Mandy Risinger.
Murrell reported that the city also experienced a cash increase of $6.3 million due to maturation of investments.
The audit was approved by the council as presented.
Chamber building to get interior facelift
Cathy Bennett, who serves as the president of the Tyler County Chamber of Commerce, came before the council, to ask its blessing on some interior renovations to the Chamber building, which the city owns.
Bennett made the request on behalf of the Tyler County Development Foundation, for which she also serves. The office she was previously working from for the Foundation, was gutted by a fire in January. The Foundation is providing funding to make interior renovations to the Chamber building so Bennett can work from there, however under the deed particulars, the city cannot sublet the building to an individual or group.
Bennett said the planned renovations would be “beneficial to both parties,” and would include texturing the walls and replacing some flooring. So far, there is $5,000 authorized to use for the project.
The renovations will be done as an in-kind donation, but per the agreement between the Chamber and the city, any modifications have to be brought before the council.
The council approved the updates to the building, with councilmember Mike Cabaniss recusing himself. Cabaniss serves on the Chamber Board of Directors.
Other Business
During Monday evening’s meeting, the Woodville City Council also heard or took action on the following:
The grant is a five-year funding allotment, and Settlocker said he will need to hire five people and obtain equipment to fulfill the aim of the grant’s intention, which is to mitigate fuels that could cause wildfires.
Settlocker said that with the grant funding, workers will be able to go throughout the county and clean up brush and other fire hazards, and mulch.
He said the county is pending a meeting with a grant administrator to get the funds going, and the county is “very excited” about it.
“It makes sense to be cohesive with other entities,” Risinger said.
