Finance committee renews audit contract

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Hurley — The firm of Makela, Pollack & Ahonen will continue to audit Iron County after the county board of supervisors’ finance committee approved a three-year contract extension with the firm Thursday.

According to a letter from the firm, the auditing costs aren’t expected to exceed $42,000 for the 2016 fiscal year, $43,000 for 2017 and $44,000 for 2018. The costs could change if new auditing requirements or standards are passed in the future.

Iron County Clerk Mike Saari praised the firm for its past work with the county. He also said the price is far cheaper than any alternatives.

“They’re still $20,000 cheaper — $20,000 to $30,000 — than anyone else we ever talked to. It’s still a good deal,” Saari said. “They’re convenient because they go down to the main meeting room for a month and they stay there; they’re not doing everything over the telephone.

“They’ve done a good job … there hasn’t been a lot of complaints … I have total confidence in those guys,” Saari said.

The firm has audited the county for the past six years, according to the letter.

In other action:

—The committee approved retaining the Milwaukee-based law firm von Briesen & Roper to oversee the Saxon Harbor rebuilding process to ensure the county follows federal procedures and receives the expected reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

—It also approved the purchase of a 2017 Western Star dump truck for the forestry department at a price of $165,800. The price includes a 500,000-mile, seven-year warranty, according to Forest Administrator Eric Peterson. The department had budgeted less money, with the plan to purchase a used truck, however Peterson said all the used vehicles available required fairly expensive maintenance or repairs in the near future and buying a new vehicle became the most cost-effective option.

The department bought its current dump truck 26 years ago.