Committee approves payment for materials after staffer admits error; corrective action submitted

During new business on April 30, the Financial Management Committee voted to pay an invoice for materials that were picked up while bids were still pending after a county staff member accepted responsibility.

A staff speaker who is identified in the transcript as Mr. Ellis described the incident as entirely his mistake, explaining that he told a driver to pick up rip-rap from Rogers Group during a repair project and that he had previously stockpiled material. “It was absolutely 100% my fault,” the speaker said, and noted he had emailed county staff and submitted a written corrective action plan.

A committee member asked whether Mr. Ellis had submitted a corrective plan; the transcript records that he had. Committee members then moved to pay the invoice, and the motion was seconded; when the chair called for a vote there was no recorded opposition and the item was approved.

The committee recorded the corrective action plan and encouraged clearer notification procedures so department staff and supervisors know when materials may not be picked up while bidding is pending.