CALHOUN COMMISSION MOVES ON FORENSIC AUDIT OF DEFUNCT CALHOUN EMS

(01/15/2014)
The Calhoun Commission is asking Prosecutor Shannon Johnson to advertise for bids for a forensic audit of the former Calhoun County Emergency Ambulance Service.

The commission took the action at Monday's meeting, pursuing an audit of agency actions since their closure that was announced in April, 2013.

The audit calls for accountability regarding the distribution of assets, collection and distribution of money owed the agency and how it has been paid to creditors.

"The commission, while requesting federal and state investigations of the agency, is continuing to work on accountability questions," said commission president Kevin Helmick.

A federal investigation request is linked to the agency receiving Medicare and Medicaid payments.

Commissioner Chip Westfall said Patty Wilmoth, EMS board president, and a law firm hired by EMS, have not been forthcoming with accountability questions asked by the commission.

Commissioners have received numerous complaints regarding the assets of Calhoun EMS, said commissioner Bob Weaver, calling the stance of Calhoun EMS prior to their closure and since "very troubling."

A member of the now three member EMS board, advised the commission that board members have not played an accountability role in foreclosure of the agency, and that board president Patty Wilmoth would not answer phone calls regarding the matter.

Commission President Kevin Helmick acknowledged that Calhoun EMS owes the county taxpayers (commission) money. The commission loaned them money to buy equipment to save them interest fees.

"We made the loan which would have helped county residents," Helmick said.

"While they made a few payments, they pretended in a report they were paying it back, but making just a few payments," said commissioner Weaver.