Gannon Acts Quickly On GOP's Request

Usually government action takes longer than most people would like, but that was not the case Friday.

Within minutes of seeing a letter to the editor from the Cannon County Republican Party on the Cannon Courier website calling for the creation of a county audit committee, County Executive Mike Gannon was taking action to put one in place.

Gannon said he contacted Shirley Borren, chairperson for the local Republican Party, and the two of them discussed the details of forming an audit committee for the county.

"I proposed to them that we sit down and form a five-person committee, which would be comprised of two county commissioners and three citizen members," Gannon said.

Gannon said Borren indicated she would discuss his proposal with other leadership members of the local GOP.

"As far as I'm concerned they (an audit committee) can look at everything and then make recommendations to the full commission," Gannon said. "I have always encouraged community participation in county government, and I don't care whether someone is a Republican, Democrat, or belongs to no political party at all."

Gannon said he has been using the county's Budget Committee to address problems uncovered by state audits.

"They (Budget Committee) have been looking at various ways to correct state audit findings over the last few years, and we have implemented their suggestions," Gannon said. "We have also brought in outside auditors to assist in the process and they have also made several recommendations which have proven to be beneficial.

"We have not had any findings of fraud, and we have not had a property tax increase in four years, so I think we have done a good job being stewards of the taxpayer's money," Gannon said. "However, if we can find ways to do a better job, we welcome any suggestions."

The county commission is expected to take up the matter of establishing an audit committee at its regular quarterly meeting on Jan. 15.