The $400,000 forensic audit examining all the facets of the failed Ball Ground Recycling deal has arrived at the Cherokee County District Attorney’s office, District Attorney Shannon Wallace confirmed Friday.
“It is extremely lengthy,” she said. “The pages aren’t numbered, but there are a lot of them.”
The audit was commissioned by Cherokee County almost a year ago following the direction of the Cherokee County Grand Jury and the District Attorney’s Office.
Since it was commissioned, the cap on the audit has risen in increments; on April 16, the county commission raised the original $100,000 cap to $319,000, and then raised it again recently to the current $400,000.
The audit, performed by McClendon and Associates Forensic Auditors with the assistance of attorney George C. Rosenzweig, is not public record until the time when it is transmitted to the Board of Commissioners’ office.
By direction of the Cherokee County Grand Jury and the district attorney, the BOC is not privy to the specifics of the work being performed by forensic auditors.
In April, when the first price increase was requested, McClendon advised the county that in the course of the investigation she needed to consult an attorney, Rosenzweig, who practices in civil litigation, land use, zoning law, commercial litigation and bankruptcy.
Additionally, it was determined in April that the audit would not be delivered to the county commission and made public upon completion; instead, it would be delivered to Wallace. This step, County Attorney Angie Davis said, is necessary so that it is clear the county commission does not have control of the audit and, therefore, any prosecution Wallace wishes to undertake will not be compromised by the release of information contained in the audit. Wallace will release the forensic audit at her discretion, or as soon as her investigation is complete.
via Audit handed over to district attorney – The Cherokee Ledger-News: Top Stories.
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