Kaplan mayor explains state's audit report findings

KAPLAN - Kaplan Mayor Kirk Champagne found himself having to explain issues found in an independent auditor’s report released by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office.
The audit was conducted by Kolder, Champagne, Slaven and Co. LLC, certified public accountants.
On Tuesday, Champagne had an explanation to the auditors’ findings.
The auditors did not like the city of Kaplan not having a written policy and procedure in place for handling late utility payments by residents.
The auditor said in a report that late penalties are not being collected by some utility services, are not being disconnected when payments are overdue.
Champagne said he did not want to be the mean guy when it comes to disconnecting people.
“Our policy is we disconnect on the 21st,” Champagne said. “If the 21st falls on a Friday, I am not going to disconnect people and then have to call our electric department out on the weekend and pay them overtime to reconnect.”
The Mayor said if someone gets paid on the 26th and needs time to get paid, he said he gives everyone a grace period.
“I try to help people out as much as I can,” Champagne said. “I did not disconnect for Christmas. I did not disconnect for New Year’s. I am not going to disconnect for the next few days because of the cold.”
Also in the audit report, it stated two issues with Champagne’s use of a city credit card. He explained he self-reported both instances, writing reports about the circumstances that were filed with the credit card receipts.
One incident was the use of the city credit car when he had a blowout while he was returning from Baton Rouge on city business. His spare was also flat, so he called for roadside assistance and the flat was repaired. Champagne said he did not have a personal credit card on him, so he used the city of Kaplan’s card.
On Tuesday, he explained he wrote a personal check to Kaplan as soon as he returned from Baton Rouge and wrote a report about the incident.
On the same trip, he used the city’s credit card to purchase meals in Baton Rouge. Somehow, he lost the meal receipts, but he said on Tuesday, he filed a report, explaining the particulars of the meals and put the note in the file with the credit card receipts.
The mayor stated he sent a written explanation to the Louisiana Legislature Auditor after receiving a letter from the agency. According to Champagne, the auditor received a response saying the explanation was acceptable.
The auditors found one instance in 2013 in which $10,000 in equipment was purchased for the police department without obtaining quotes or bids, which looks to be a violation of the state’s public bid law.
Kaplan Police Chief Boyd Adams explained.
“Camera systems for police cars were purchased, I mimicked the State Police and purchased the cameras because they met all requirements needed,” said Adams. “They were purchased after searching several companies products through phone conversations and the internet. Our in-car cameras are the same cameras Louisiana State Police have in their police units. They are very durable and provide law enforcement with what is needed when it comes to in-car cameras, for law enforcement to be able to do their jobs efficiently.
“I also will be writing to the legislative auditor explaining my purchase and sending them my documentation of the purchase. I purchased the cameras as many other agencies have because they are the only company that offered the product with all the dimensions it has,” he added.