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County 911 employees ordered to reimburse salary overpayment

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By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer 5:55 PM Thursday, November 19, 2009

URBANA — Fourteen Champaign County 911 center employees must repay the county more than a combined $14,000 in salary overpayments, according to a state audit released Thursday, Nov. 19.

The audit lists overpayments for the last week of 2006 through 2008 for the Champaign County-wide Public Safety Communication Center.

“The findings in our audit are the result of numerous payroll errors,” said Chris Abbruzzese, state auditor’s office spokesman.

The report noted in several instances that employees were paid for 80 hours in a pay period when only 72 hours were recorded on their time sheets.

The center also underpaid those same employees, who were required to report 15 minutes early for their shifts, the report stated.

County Administrator Andrea Millice said the overpayment problems stemmed from scheduling issues.

“Employees have been notified,” she said. “We’re working on repayment.”

Millice added: “Steps have been taken to correct the deficiencies so it won’t happen again.”

Center Director Teresa Guthrie agreed with Millice’s assesment and said that the dispatchers “have been understanding” about having to repay the money.

“It’s unfortunate that this had to happen and we’re working on resolving it,” Guthrie said.

Guthrie, who became director in March 2008, is also one of the employees who must repay funds. She owes $1,035.80, according to the report.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.

911 Center employees must repay:

Sandy Allen - $270

Robin Ballard - $1,089.81

Emily Champ - $283.25

Catherine Duvall - $1,227.24

Linda Fleming - $1,278.25

Teresa Guthrie - $1,035.80

Mary Kinney - $1,237.31

Miranda LaFary - $1,062.15

Melissa Miller - $1,216.20

Richard Nelson - $1,315.63

Adam Nitchman - $829.07

Mindy North - $1,625.83

Eric Shonkwiler - $945.35

Aimee Varner - $718.92

total - $14,134.81

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The employees of CC-911 were givn a schedule where their days rotated off this only gav them 72hrs the employees @the direction of Mike Iiames was told to come in 15mins early to equal out the time short,thats y the employees didnt say anything Mike Iiames told them it would all come out in the wash not to worry about it the employees wrkd what they were told they were not TRYING TO GET AWAY W ANYTHING! Get all the facts b4 u judge!!!

Karen
8:54 AM, 11/24/2009

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Why were only the names of the employees put in the paper. Where are the names of the prior director, county auditor, fiscal board, and ops board members. Sounds like these are the people that are really responsible. Shouldn't they be taking some of the heat and some of the blame. Maybe those people should pay back the money!

June
7:55 AM, 11/24/2009

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I luv the comment did they think they was getn away w it, never did the employees take money fraudulantly get facts straight,the employees wrkd the schedule they were givn,the employees put 72hrs on their timecards, the prior director made the mistake not the employees,they r now wrkn 80hrs & r havin to pay 4 his mistake.The posting of the names was ridiculous & nowhere near neccessary.One question why wasnt the prior director Mike Iiames name put in its his bad judgement that we r all paying 4.

Reallyseriously
7:43 AM, 11/24/2009

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As an employee I worked the hours scheduled for me to work. I did express concerns about the schedule several times. I was assurred that the schedule had been approved and the hours would work out at the end of the fiscal period. This problem was found in the 2006 audit, the prior director paid the monies owed, without advising the employees of the erros. Corrective action was not followed up on and continued into 2007 and 2008. I believe the prior director should pay again for his mistakes.

Mindy
7:28 AM, 11/24/2009

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Upper management knew the scheduling problem and didn't follow up to correct the problem...even after the dispatchers advised of the 72 hr work week and being paid for 80. When the former director was audited by the state, they were all aware of the problem - including the county auditor, fiscal board and 911 ops board. Did anyone follow up? No. As usual, the "cash" flows downhill. BTW, those who owe the most money, worked all the holidays.

Melissa
7:22 AM, 11/24/2009

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