Ironwood Township hears good news in audit report

By RICHARD JENKINS

rjenkins@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood Township — The Ironwood Township Board of Trustees heard good news recently as the township’s auditor said there were zero deficiencies or findings in the township’s 2019 audit.

This marks the third year in a row with zero deficiencies or findings in the audits.

Supervisor Jim Simmons credited the township employees who worked with auditor, Karl “Gus” Ahonen, with the Ironwood-based Makela, Pollack and Ahonen, for the result.

“That’s been the fine work between Mary Segalin and Maria Graser,” Simmons told the Daily Globe.

The positive news was a stark difference from the 2016 audit.

“For the (2016) audit, we reported a total of eight audit findings; for the (2017) and (2018) audits, we reported zero findings each year,” Ahonen told the board in January when he presented the 2018 audit.

This is also the first time in roughly a decade the township’s audit has been completed on time, according to Simmons and Ahonen — even with the restrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Simmons said the BS&A accounting software the township is transitioning to has more checks and balances built into it, meaning he expects the positive news to continue in future audits.

In other action:

—The board approved renewing the contract with the Bessemer Library for another year. There were no formal changes to the library agreement, meaning the township won’t have to pay anything beyond its penal fines for its residents to use the library. Although there are no changes to the formal agreement, Bessemer Library Director Melissa Lupino said the library has increased the number of members on the library board so it could open up representation to the two townships — Bessemer and Ironwood townships — it serves.

“We’re happy to continue serving all the Ironwood Township residents for another year,” Lupino told the Daily Globe.

—The board tabled two ordinances for additional review — one dealing with the township’s fire department and another concerning anti-noise and public nuisance regulations. The board passed a civil infractions ordinance.