The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1907-02-07
Report Of Special Auditing Com
Y inittee

the 25th day Of January, 1907, upon .
motion made before the said City Coun.
Gil, it was ordered that the report Of the
special Auditor and Board Of Audit,
which was presented to the CITY Coun.
Gil ON tho l4th day Of May, 1905. DO
published in newspaper for the pur-
poee OF informing the public OF the con-
dition. financially and otherwise, Of the
city OF Minot, ct the time when the
reirs Of government OF the city were
taken over BY tho present admiuistra-
ton.
Below will be found full and com
plete copy Of said report Is submitted at
that time. This report throws some in
teresting sideligbts upon affairs and the
financial condition OF the city. at the
time Of its presentation to tho city
council.
To THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF TIE CRY OF M1NoT, Nd:
We beg to report to your honorable
body on the results of our investigations
OF the affairs Of the city as follows:
Our work has been seriously handi-
capped by our inability to secure the
proper records. All of the warrant
books and cancelled warrants from 1902
to October LIST, 1904, were consumed in
the fire which destroyed the Great
Northern depot in October, 1904.
We find that licenses for pool tables,
shows and other privileges have been
made without any duplicate or stub,
consequently it is impossible to get any
check on those items, other than the
treasurer's receipts therefor. On March
LIST, 1906, new license sheet in book
form. with stub attached and numbered,
was brought into use, which will remedy
this matter in the future.
We also find that it has been custom
airy for the auditor to make his remit
lance to the treasurer in two or three
payments during the year. AS those
amounts are collected monthly we be-
treasurer monthly
in April, 1904, turned over to his sue
cessor s3,94265, while his own figures
show that he should have turned over
$4,O22.7e, being discrepancy OF $3.50.
We find shortage OF S225O IN the
Der. 1905. and in tracing up this matter
we find that Policeman kimball col
lected this amount but lost it. Mr..
Kimball promised to make the amount
good.
TIE city auditor is provided with a
warrant register, but not single war
rant has ever been marked paid in the
register, nor had any warrants been en-
tered since January 4th, 1906.
we find several warrants which had
not been endorsed by the party to whom
they were made payable, and also num-
Der of warrants which had not been
signed by the mayor or acting mayor.
This method, we believe, is not legal
one, and certainly is not business one.
CITY HALL
At regular meeting of the city coun-
Gil held Sept. 4th, 1905, an appropriation
of S11 600 for the erection Of city hall
was made by the city council, and at an
adjourned meeting Sept. 18th, 1905. the
bid Of D. A. Dinnie for the erection of
the city hall at cost ofSll,l71 was &C
copied. :,
IL At the time contract for the city hall
was made there was no funds available
with which to pay for said building,
neither is there any at the present time,
and will De none until the taxes OF 1906
are paid.
On November 23rd, 1906, the city Of
Minot insured the city hall for the
amount of $4,000, five policies OF $4,000
each, running for term of five years, at
a premium of SAP, making total of
S2lO, the insurance being written by &.
Aurland.
BY referring to the contract of Mr..
Dinnie we find therein clause which
reads as follows: at is further agreed
that the city shall keep the building in
sured against loss by fire, as the work
on the same progresses. The amount OF
the insurance premium earned While
this building is in construction shall be
charged to the contractor" This con-
tract was written by Mr.. Zimmerman,
architect, and approved by the then
city attorney. we also find that on
March 9th, 1906. the city issued war
rant to D. A. Dinnie for $3.50 for dry
ing hose in the city hall.
CITY HALL HEATING PLANT
At an adjourned meeting of the city
council held Sept. 18th, 1905, the city
entered into contract with McGraw
Bros. of the city of Minot for the in
stallation of a heating plant and plumb
ing system for the city hall according
to plans and specifications for the con.
sideration OF SLOTS. On Dec. Goth the
city issued McGraw Bros. a warrant for
$500, and on Jan. oath, 1906, another
warrant for S34555, same being balance
on contract, and s67.55 additional for
connecting with city heating plant. we
ere unable to find when or where any
appropriation has been made for this
purpose, yet warrants for payment of
same have been drawn on the general
fund.
The apportionment of money to the
different funds have received very little
attention, all warrants being drawn on
the general or water works funds, al
though an appropriation has been made
Sept. 4th, 1905, for road and bridge
fund. only six warrants have been drawn
on this fund in the past four years. The
money belonging to the cemetery fund
has been transferred to the general
fund.
2 Under the date Of April, May and
June, 1902, on the treasurer's ledger,
there is an entry Of $4,000 in the pay
ment column. This item does not an.
pear in the cash book, nor is there any
other entry or explanation OF the mat.
ter that we can discover.
The interest on bonds falls due in
Al