City of Mt. Vernon passes audit with flying colors, asset value increasing

The city of Mt. Vernon received a clean, or unmodified, opinion on its audit of 2018. Rebecca Friedrich, an auditor and certified public accountant with KPM CPAs and Advisors, of Springfield, delivered the report during the Mt. Vernon Board of Aldermen meeting on Tuesday, March 26.
In addition to the unmodified opinion, the audit showed the city had total assets of $42,672,412 as of Dec. 31, 2018. This was up about $68,000 from the Dec. 31. 2017.
The audit also revealed that Mt. Vernon has total liabilities of $10,436,533; down over $1 million from the previous year. The city’s total net position increased by $848,338 over the year.
While delivering her report to the board, Friedrich also praised the city’s employees, whom she described as helpful and “cooperative during the course of the audit.”
Also during the meeting, the board passed an ordinance authorizing execution of a contract between the city and Anderson Engineering, Inc., for engineering services related to Sidewalk Improvements Phase Three. The contract calls for the city to pay Anderson a fixed fee of $4,971.44 plus actual costs incurred, with a maximum level of $38,995.61, for design services. The city will also pay Anderson $5,564.46 plus actual costs incurred for construction inspection services; the maximum set amount for construction inspection services is $45,692.13.
The board also passed a resolution in support of the proposed E911 sales tax, stating that “911 communications and dispatching services are vital law enforcement and fire protection services that serve and protect the interests of the citizens of Mt. Vernon.”
In other business, Mayor David Eden presented local artist Steve Snyder with a proclamation honoring him for his work with his Freedom Endeavor project and congratulating him on being presented the Individual Artist Award by the Missouri Arts Council. Snyder was presented the Individual Artist Award on Feb. 6.