Special examinations are uncovered in improper payments in the Johnson Co. Conservation Department

Iowa City, Iowa (KCRG) – A state audit says that two former employees of the protection of Johnson County have enriched themselves with resources from the district, including the pocket circle and the payment without actually working.

The test discovered a total of $ 63,504.57 of improper payments and a further $ 24,602.14 in non -supported payments up to director Larry Gullett and Operations Superintendent Wade Schultz. The law firm of the Johnson County district is now checking the results. Nobody was charged criminal and Gullett has died since then.

The report states that the employees first reported problems with regard to the then director Larry Gullett and the Operations Superintendent Wade Schultz, which are enough for resources from the pocket protection department, use the resources of the district to maintain gifts and be paid for while not being displayed for work.

In an anonymous letter it says that Gullett and Schultz have not been seen at work in the past two years. In fact, the Audit Handy notes used to show that Schultz was out of the district several times than his working time tables claimed. Overall, the examination states that school was paid for 864 hours when he did not actually work, which was about 33,000 US dollars of payment and services of a total of $.

The exam said that Gullett had not reported a sick time for the 4 and a half year period of 448 hours for medical appointments. It also documented 703 working hours in which he was not at work but did not take a vacation time. However, since there was no documentary and Gullett could perform some of the work from home, none of these hours included it as inappropriate. But it noticed that several employees gave that Gullett “was not really at work” or “He may come in with an employee twice a month that they” haven't seen him much in recent years “.

The exam also identified 13,897 US dollars in payments that the department refunded as improper hotel stays, kilometers and gifts to the Ioway tribe during a ceremony in 2023 to hand over 7 hectares of land, which is known as two horse farm. During the gift exchange at the ceremony, Mr. Gullett received gifts from the trunk, but did not hand over them to the department.

The exam said that Gullett and Schultz also took wood from the district's sawmill in Cangleska-Wakan. The wood there is not for sale, but is generally used for district projects. The exam found that Schultz used the wood to make two tables, a desk as a gift for his wife, while Gullett used a friend on his veranda. The employees said they were often said to help Schultz with personal wood work projects. In total, the audit has identified more than 5,300 US dollars of non -collected income for the department.

During the examination, purchases of deliveries and equipment were also determined, of which the employees believe that Schultz was taken home for personal use such as welding supplies, washing machines, wiper fluid and toilet paper. The employees also said that Schultz and Gullett would often use County vehicles for personal use.

According to the examination, the office and the nature conservation authority of the Johnson County Sheriff and the nature reserve examined the claims before he turned to the state auditor. The nature conservation authority provided Gullett and Schultz in a paid vacation in June 2024. Gullett died in September. Schultz remains paid vacation.

“Johnson County is grateful for the investigative aid that the wax dog of the taxpayer, the state of the state Rob Sand, and the report published on March 4,” said the chairman Jon Green of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. “Johnson County's committed and attentive and attentive employees noticed that something seemed to be in the nature conservation department, and it reported on officers from the district of Johnson County, who then applied for the participation of the Sand auditor. We thank you.

“The Auditor Sand's report is a roadmap to improve our systems and processes, and we are already in good action. Johnson County will continue to take over the recommendations of sand and all other improvements that we find on the way, ”continued Green. “The report speaks for itself and given the fact that it was referred to law enforcement, another comment is unclear.”

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