State auditors report La Conner is ‘clean’

It was billed as a special meeting but played out much like similar Town of La Conner audit exit sessions of the past.

And that was good news for town leaders.

The one difference is the 35-minute Zoom discussion between La Conner representatives and the state auditor’s office Monday afternoon, which was conducted remotely, same as the two-year audit itself.

Audit Lead Christy Fazio, and Supervisor Karyna Orcutt announced clean Accountability and Financial Statement Reports, which they and Mayor Ramon Hayes confirmed included reviews of municipal real estate transactions in 2019 and 2020, most notably sales of the Kirsch waterfront and Hedlin’s ballfield properties.

“This makes 15 consecutive ‘finding free’ audits for the town,” Hayes told the Weekly News afterward. “The Town of La Conner wants people to know we take these things seriously.”

During the briskly paced meeting, Hayes specifically asked Fazio and Orcutt about the two major property sales.

“We looked at both of those,” Fazio said, “and went through the legal documents to see whether the town complied with the terms in those documents. We found the Town in compliance.”

Hayes said the Town’s purchase and subsequent sale of the nearly two-acre ballfield off Maple Avenue, which last year was rezoned residential from public use after many decades of being converted from a public green space and youth sports venue to a 10-house development and 24,000 square-foot park, merited state review given the emotional attachment generations of locals have for the site.

“The Hedlin deal was quite a complex transaction,” Hayes said. “For the auditors to take a look at it, regardless of the outcome, is something we appreciate.”

Orcutt made a point of praising Town Finance Director Maria DeGoede for her work during the technology driven process.

“This was the first time we had done a remote audit with the town, receiving all the information remotely,” Orcutt said. “We want to thank Maria for facilitating a positive audit environment. It’s a big undertaking. We appreciate all the effort it took to provide us with all the documents and to answer all our questions.”

The audit covered a wide range of areas, in addition to the real estate purchase and sales agreements. Auditors also examined electronic funds transfers, cash receipting and tracked and monitored what are termed “theft-sensitive” assets, such as computers, tools, fuel and key equipment.

Some of the specially called council meeting delved into fairly technical finance topics.

“This,” new Town Council member Rick Dole quipped at one point, “is rejuvenating brain cells that I haven’t used since college.”

Orcutt said the Town’s next audit will be conducted in 2023.

But, for now, Fazio said La Conner can give itself a pat on the back.

“The Town and its staff are doing a great job.”