McComb Mayor Zach Patterson said this week he intends to launch an accounting probe into the city’s former tourism office and its use of funds for the Iron Horse Festival. The mayor also pledged to halt spending on the city sports park and wastewater treatment plant.
Patterson, at Tuesday’s city board meeting, said the sports park, which has an estimated $4.4 million-and-counting pricetag, is way over budget.
He also said the city is bound to take on debt for the new treatment plant, which is expected to cost more than $20 million and must be operating by 2010, according to a federal mandate.
The city has raised water bills in an effort to generate funding for the wastewater plant. Patterson said he is concerned that money, which goes into the city’s capital improvement fund, is being lumped with other city funds.
Patterson also announced Tuesday that he will seek an audit from the state to look into what he called questionable accounting practices regarding the Iron Horse Festival.
“I will have it investigated,” he said.
Funding for the Iron Horse Festival in the past has operated through a McComb Main Street Association checking account.
McComb removed the Main Street Association director’s position from the city payroll when the city formed the Community Relations and Tourism Department. That department absorbed the McComb Visitors Bureau.
Former McComb Visitors Bureau director Carmen Walsh and McComb Main Street Association director Brooke LeBlanc oversaw the Iron Horse Festival this year. Walsh resigned from the city a few weeks ago. LeBlanc is still Main Street director.
Patterson would not elaborate on any alleged accounting irregularities, saying he would rather discuss the matter in an open board meeting.
