State audit complete on Wedowee Utility Board; New management working to stabilize finances
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By Erica Thomas – 1819News.com
(The original version of this story can be read here.)
WEDOWEE — A state forensic audit has been completed on the Wedowee Utility Board. The audit was launched following a preliminary local audit report that flagged possible issues with the utility’s bookkeeping.
After nine weeks, Wedowee Utility Board chairman Barry Waldrep told 1819 News that there is now greater oversight under the newly appointed executive director, Randy Benefield. The two are working to sort out the utility’s financial practices and internal operations while providing transparency.
“We’ve just tried to figure out ways to save money,” Waldrep said. “Randy, in his role, has discovered a lot of things that we need to do. He has the knowledge of the business. We both can look at finances and tell, ‘Hey, this is going to work, or it’s not going to work.’ We’ve been trying to accumulate all the debt we’re responsible for, which has been quite the task. A lot of it is still unknown. There’s still a lot of unknown stuff that we’re dealing with, but we’re sorting it out.”
Benefield said the utility is working to maintain rates, but there is a possibility of a rate increase. However, he said audit reports will need to be final before a complete analysis can be conducted.
“With annual increases on things, we are working on things to try to maintain the rates we’re at,” Benefield said. “We don’t know what fuel surcharges are going to be; we don’t know anything about a lot of things going on right now.”
Among operating expenses being carefully scrutinized is overtime pay, after the preliminary audit report found overtime hours in 2024 totaled $147,000. Benefield said there is a need for overtime work, but those hours are being closely monitored.
“I want to know when they go out, and I want to know when they come home because I want to make sure they get home safe,” Benefield said. “Just by that alone, I’m able to keep up with how much overtime is being introduced and how much it is. They [employees] understand our financial crisis, and they’re all doing their part and saying, ‘Hey, I hate to go out, but this call is happening.’ They are here doing their part.”
The Alabama Attorney General’s Office’s investigation into the utility is ongoing. Attorney General Steve Marshall told 1819 News his office steps in when there are possible ethics or criminal violations involving boards with little oversight.
While utility boards do have guidelines from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), Waldrep noted there is little oversight on the management of ratepayer funds.
“The whole key is to be able to give the customers the best rates as possible, prepare for disasters, prepare for anything that might come up. It’s the big picture, but I really think that there should be some laws in place from the state and that it is mandated for utility boards to have to answer to certain guidelines,” Waldrep said.
Waldrep and Benefield said another goal is to ensure the utility operates efficiently through policies and at least four points of responsibility. They said they hope the work to get the utility back on track will be successful, not only for the utility but also for its customers.
“I’m always going to stick up for our team,” said Benefield. “We’re working hard to make the changes. I’ve seen things change. I’ve been there just listening to conversations with people and the things I’ve gotten from people are good things.”
“We both grew up here and my wife grew up here,” Waldrep added. “We want to see good things happen. I was put in a very difficult position, but when you’re appointed to something, the people appointing you are expecting you to do the best job possible. That’s what I’m going to do.”
An accountant previously estimated the Wedowee Utilities Board was months away from bankruptcy. However, Benefield expressed confidence that current corrective measures will prevent that.
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