Readers Write

Point, counterpoint
Editor, The Eunice News:
I wrote as follows on Dec. 29 to City Attorney Vernon McManus and I am unaware of any action since.
“At the December 2014 council meeting of the City of Eunice Louisiana it was brought to the attention of the Mayor and City Council by the City Auditor that $5,571 was missing from city funds.
“The auditor revealed the money was illegally withdrawn from the city account during the past year. The auditor also revealed the money was withdrawn by an unidentified source from California. The theft was not noticed earlier because the bank statement had not been reconciled for seven months in a row, a procedure which is required to be done monthly.
“I am requesting the Eunice City Attorney initiate an investigation with the proper law enforcement agency as to how the funds were illegally obtained from the City of Eunice account and attempt to determine who is responsible. Missing public funds cannot be written off without an attempt to investigate the matter.
“It seems highly unusual that someone from California targeted the City of Eunice Louisiana’s bank routing number and account number.
“Also, inform the council why the account was not reconciled in the required time period, as this could have limited the amount of loss, as per the accountant’s comments.
“Upon the completion of the investigation and results obtained by the city attorney, I request a copy be furnished to the mayor and current city council members and now-sitting council members as well as the news media,”
Roland Miller
Alderman, Ward 1
Eunice

Editor’s Note: Miller left office two days after this letter was written. Contacted, McManus said CPA Frank Tujaque had explained the theft process at the December council meeting at which the audit report was reviewed. McManus also noted the extended failure to reconcile the account had been corrected by the time the report was ready, and blamed that failure on both a transition in personnel and computer software glitches. City Clerk Ginny Moody on Jan. 30 sent Miller a letter containing the initial incident report of the city’s complaint to the St. Landry Sheriff’s Office regarding the theft. That complaint was made on Aug. 22 and the incident turned over to the detective bureau, which has not been able to pinpoint a suspect in the cybertheft.

Camp Fire Girls thanks
Editor, The Eunice News:
Congratulations ‘Miss Doris’ Stagg as Citizen of the Year.
This is a belated but nonetheless heartfelt Thank You for all the volunteer years that you devoted to the Camp Fire Girls of Eunice.
On behalf of the thousands of girls who went through and benefitted from the program, our sincere thanks.

Georgie Manuel
Eunice