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Friday, August 20, 2010

Ind. Courts - "Carroll County clerk refuses to quit"

Sophia Voravong reports today in the Lafayette Journal Courier:

DELPHI -- Carroll County Clerk Nancy Mattox is being asked to resign over what members of the Carroll County Council argue is poor bookkeeping at the expense of taxpayers.

The request came during a council meeting Thursday morning, when Mattox stepped up to give her monthly report.

Mattox refused.

"They have no authority to do this," she said. "I have declined their request."

Though the council's bold move at a public meeting was unexpected, conflict between Mattox and the seven-member board has been ongoing for several months, both parties explained Thursday.

County Council President Ann Brown said it centers on some books that Mattox has not balanced since January 2009, the month that she took office.

Asking Mattox to resign was a unanimous decision among the seven-member council.

"We did our request because of her refusal to follow Indiana Code," Brown said, referring to the unbalanced books. "After month after month ... we felt it was unacceptable for her to violate that code and decided to take action.

"It's fiscally irresponsible for us to allow her to do that. We try very hard to keep Carroll County financially sound." * * *

"I have never refused to do any of my duties as clerk of Carroll County," she said. "I've gone to (the council) on several occasions and requested help, both in the area of staff and help with doing the books.

"I understand that the county has limited funds, but the fact is that I asked for help and have been declined."

The county council does not have authority to force Mattox to resign. And it will not pursue ousting Mattox through legal means because of the likely expense, Brown said.

But the council opted to ask anyway so that Carroll County residents would know.

"It needed to be brought forth to the public," Brown said. "This is the only way we felt that we could get our point across."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 20, 2010 02:29 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts