Your Opinion: Required written documentation sought

Dear Editor:

Thank you, Mr. Allen, for your letter published March 18 in the News Tribune. I believe that this situation may soon get out of control; hence a brief history.

I received a copy of City Ordinance 14905, the contract between the City of Jefferson and the Chamber in early February 2012. It calls for quarterly reports and an annual (certified) financial audit report. A call to City Hall yielded that there were no such reports on file in their system.

Shortly thereafter, I contacted a local citizen whom I respect and trust to act as an intermediary who would know his/her way around town to obtain copies of the five quarterly reports from November 2010 through January 2012 time periods, and the financial report due in October 2011.

Early on I verbally suggested seeking an additional intermediary, or two, if needed; however, I wanted this to be accomplished quietly and behind the scenes. If I found any areas of concern, it was my sincere intent to discuss such with you privately and timely. However, it seems that there are no such written documents available. So, I am the one who initiated the request for these written reports.

Now I fear that the situation is getting out of hand.

Right now I am working on my federal and state income tax reports before turning them over to my CPA. I am required to document and prove everything to insure that these governmental agencies get every ounce of my money for them to spend. For some strange reason, they do not seem willing to accept my word for anything. I, therefore, see no reason why I should accept anyone else's word for spending my tax money on their projects, regardless of their supposed worth to society. And that is the basis for my request for written documentation as noted above.

Based on my sources, there is no documentation of your past reports on the use of Jefferson City's contribution to the Chamber. This is in violation of Ordinance 14905. I am requesting that you provide the written documentation as listed above, to me no later than April 9, 2012.

My address is in the phone book. Thank you.