The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is examining records from the Mt. Gilead-Improve Water Association.
Ken Sauls, who has served on the water association’s board for the past several years, indicated issues with the accounting of a substantial amount of money after being voted in as the new president during the annual meeting Oct. 11.
Capt. Pete Williams of the Sheriff’s Office said the matter is under investigation.
Mt. Gilead–Improve is one of about 19 rural water associations that operate in different parts of Marion County and are organized as private nonprofits owned collectively by their customers. Mt. Gilead-Improve serves about 2,100 people in northeast Marion County.
During its annual meeting at the Improve Baptist Church’s activity center on Mississippi 44, board members said they were anticipating a lot of angry residents. However, only six members of the public attended, and they were complimentary of the board.
Sauls and Clay Broom were re-elected, and Gary Blackwell was elected as a new board member. Broom will serve as secretary/treasurer, and three slots remain vacant while they try to find others willing to serve.
Resident Lenora Russell spoke up during a time for public comments and thanked the board for volunteering during what she described as a difficult time.
“You guys are looking out for us, and we appreciate it,” she said.
Mike Davis of the CPA firm TMH gave a report of the association’s finances for its fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. The utility company took in about $390,000 in revenues and ended up with a net income of $24,528. It had a cash balance of about $270,000.
Sauls described the association as just “squeaking by” right now, but it is moving forward with a new headquarters building that is under construction.
Operator Todd Dixon said the building is about 80 percent complete and is expected to be finished by the end of November. The board voted to name it after the late Mike Russell, a longtime board member.
Dixon said they just opened a new plant in April and that it has drastically improved efficiency, going from 74 percent of the water in the system being lost to 48 percent. He said they hope to get that number into the 30s.
“We’ve got questions, but we can’t say anything,” Dixon said about the investigation, adding that the community has been good about the situation. “There are some good people out here who understand.”
