County restricts card charges
Unauthorized charges to a county credit card allegedly made by County Judge Rick Davis’ former administrative assistant were the prologue to Monday night’s adoption of an ordinance establishing a policy for county credit card use.
The prepared statement Davis read to the Garland County Quorum Court said Kristi Goss was fired after the county’s financial management office discovered the unauthorized charges May 24. Davis said he immediately notified the credit card company, the Garland County Sheriff’s Department and
County Attorney Ralph Ohm.
Prosecuting Attorney Terri Harris said Tuesday that the Arkansas State Police is investigating the unauthorized charges and will submit its findings to the prosecutor’s office.
“We referred it to the state police to conduct an investigation and compile a file to submit to our office to see what, if any, charges should be filed,” she said.
The quorum court appropriated $12,000 from the county general fund to the county general services fund Monday night to cover the unauthorized charges. Davis’ statement said an insurance claim has been filed with the credit card company, but the appropriation was needed to avoid finance charges and fees and to pay off the card’s remaining balance.
“I would like to comment at great length on this situation; however, this is an issue which continues to be under investigation,” said Davis, reading from his prepared statement. “I can assure you upon discovery of these irregularities, appropriate actions were immediately taken with full cooperation with the appropriate authorities. I am unable to discuss the details of this issue any further until the appropriate time.”
The “Credit Card, Reimbursement and Travel Policy for Garland County Government” ordinance adopted Monday night limits elected offices to three credit cards and caps single purchases by an employee at $2,500 and $5,000 for a department head or elected official. Charges for “personal and private benefit” are prohibited.
“Any such purchase will be considered unauthorized, and the employee will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination,” the ordinance says. “The elected official or employee will be personally liable for their respective unauthorized charges.”
The policy prohibits the following charges: cash advances, no-show charges for hotels and car rentals, conference/convention meals if already included in registration fees, first or business class airfare upgrades, parking fines or traffic tickets, clothing rental, laundry, valet, dry cleaning charges, personal or adult entertainment such as hotel room movies, newspapers, magazines, health club facilities, event tickets, spa services, repairs or towing of personal vehicles, expense for non-employee or nonelected official travel companions, minibar refreshments and other snacks, hotel telephone charges and alcohol.
The ordinance was adopted with an emergency clause, making it effective immediately.
Goss and her husband, Dennis, were arrested July 22 on charges of possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver and unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate a crime. According to the arrest affidavits, Dennis Goss entered the Garland County Courts Building with approximately 1.8 grams of suspected meth in his pocket.
Investigators with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force found approximately 2.8 grams of Concerta in Kristi Goss’ purse when they questioned her in the parking lot and an envelope containing $7,500 in a laptop case. The vehicle the couple drove to the courts building was registered to someone else. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges, which have yet to be filed in circuit court.