February 03, 2009 09:29 pm
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‘Absolute lack of accountability’ by Wilder
I have been following the Peggy Wilder story with great interest. It is also interesting to read the blogs online as well. One theme is prevalent throughout — the total and absolute lack of accountability for one’s actions.
When Rob Waiz filed suit asking for a copy of Peggy Wilder’s bond and she accused him of playing nasty politics, I believed something was amiss then. The latest developments with the published findings of the State Board of Accounts confirmed my suspicions.
First, let’s put blame squarely where it belongs. No one forced Peggy Wilder to do any of the actions which the State Board of Accounts has outlined, according to The Evening News. Therefore, that means Peggy Wilder made a choice, a bad choice, to take money from the coffers.
Whether she repaid it when she thought she’d been caught or her intention was to repay all along, I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. Peggy Wilder committed acts that would not be considered “faithful performance” by any employer and would warrant immediate dismissal upon discovery by most.
Secondly, shame on the board of accounts for conducting audits every two years and not addressing Peggy’s lack of surety bond for the years 2004 to 2008. One of the things she hurled at Rob Waiz when he asked for a copy of her bond was that it just a total waste of money, but she’d go ahead and get one.
It’s not Peggy’s place to save money by doing away with the bond requirement. It’s required by statute. A surety bond is issued by an insurance company and public official bonds such as those required of Peggy Wilder guarantee the faithful performance of the public official including handling of public funds. The holder of this bond, or obligee, would be the state of Indiana for the use and benefit of the city of Jeffersonville.
When a public official fails to faithfully perform duties and causes a monetary loss to the city, a claim is made against the public official and also the insurance company that issued the public official bond. The surety [insurance] company conducts a thorough investigation and if a claim is legitimate, pays up to the face value of the bond or the amount of claim if lower.
In this case, if funds are missing and not recoverable from Peggy Wilder for the years 2004 to 2008, the city of Jeffersonville will not be able to recoup its money.
Let’s hope this scenario doesn’t play out.
— Tammy Powell, Jeffersonville
Thanks from Community Needs Ministry
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people ...” Galatians 6:10
On behalf of our 15 area churches and myself, I would like to say thank you to each individual and business who sponsored children, helped with food deliveries and extended love and goodwill toward those who were in need this past year.
Out of your generosity, we were able to provide 66 food baskets to those in need, and we were especially blessed to have been able to provide for some of the needs of 100 children in our community.
I would like to give special thanks to these businesses who sponsored our Community Needs Ministry: The New Washington State Bank, Girl Scout Troops 665 and 2141, Shop with a Cop FOP Auxiliary 181, The East End Democratic Club, A&D Grocery, Four Quarters, Sunshine Chiropractic, The New Washington Fire Department, The Dollar General Store, Clark County REMC, Mike Dean Construction, The New Washington Elementary School Student Council and High School Honor Society, Community Presbyterian of Charlestown and The Clark County Junior Leaders.
None of this would be possible without our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us strength, energy, resources and the ability to perform this great ministry. May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you as you strive to reach others in this coming year with his love.
— Dotty Fields, chairwoman, Community Needs Ministries of Clark County
Extraordinary acts of ‘yes, we can’— Fred Mitchell, executive director, Community Action of Southern Indiana and 2009 Organizational Recipient of the Freedom and Justice Award, Jeffersonville
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