DERIDDER — The Beauregard Parish Police Jury Personnel Committee took no action during a special called meeting Thursday that addressed all of its employees involved in the annual state-mandated auditing process.

The committee was called after police jurors cited staff members as being responsible for the lateness of the audit, which was due at the Legislative Auditor’s Office by June 30.

Committee member Llewellyn “Biscuit” Smith said police jurors, who held most of the meeting behind closed doors, would consider their options and take action Sept. 2 during the committee’s regularly scheduled agenda meeting.

“Now when we get everything together, we will have another public meeting to explain everything,” he said.

“We’ll discuss what the Personnel Committee has found; what we’re going to do with it; what, if any, ramifications we’re going to hand down to any individual; and what we’re going to be suggesting to the whole jury to make sure this doesn’t happen again. That’s the main concern of what we’re trying to do.”

Police Juror Rusty Williamson had pointed the finger at Parish Secretary-Treasurer Tayra DeHoven in a previous meeting and said it was her sole responsibility to ensure the timeliness of the audit.

DeHoven said the auditor’s requirement to keep certain months open prevented them from staying on top of the accounting schedule.

That and a computer failure last June caused a “snowball effect,” she said.

Parish Administrator Bobby Hennigan agreed and said he shares responsibility with DeHoven for the audit. 

“I think it’s a tight schedule between the time the auditor needs, the time the CPA needs to get all the records in the right form to give to the auditor and for us to do that,” he said.

“And not closing the books until at least the first of March. Right now, because of the computer crash, we’re behind. We’re just struggling to catch up.”

Parish resident Russell Williams addressed the committee and suggested hiring people to oversee Police Jury staff and said both Hennigan and DeHoven had too many other responsibilities.

“It all boils down to one thing: Accept the fact that this parish is growing,” Williams said.

“And accept the fact that this parish is fixing to grow immensely by what’s going on in Lake Charles. Now you have to prepare for that.”

Beauregard Parish is listed on the legislative auditor’s noncompliance list, putting state funding on hold until the audit is submitted. Parish auditor J. Aaron Cooper said he expects the report to be submitted to the state by late September.

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Online: www.lla.state.la.us.(MGNonline)