On Monday, April 2, 2018, Special Agents from the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor (OSA) delivered demands to members of the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and. the former City Clerk of the Town of Potts Camp in two separate cases. When combined, the demands represent $209,600.37 of improper use of public funds.
Mississippi Board of Cosmetology:
Current Mississippi Board of Cosmetology Board Members, Darlene Smith; Bertha Johnson; Dorothy Ennis; and Glenda Honeycutt, and former board member, Waylon Garrett, were each issued separate demands for $4,213.63. The total demand amount is $21,068.15. This amount represents funds that were lost due to the Board’s failure to provide proper oversight in ensuring timely deposits were made and account for payments received.
Responsibility for the management of funds conducted by any Mississippi board or commission is directly accountable to the respective board of directors. Earlier this year, OSA highlighted a lack of oversight by many small boards and commissions within the State in a report, which can be found online at the OSA website.
Former Town of Potts Camp City Clerk:
Paula Mansell, former City Clerk of the Town of Potts Camp, was issued two separate demands. The first demand is $10,146.41. It was issued for misappropriated court funds. The second demand is $178,385.81, and it was issued for misappropriated water and sewer funds and a lawn mower that was purchased by the Town and never received. These funds were misappropriated during the time period of January 2014 to August 2016. Principal, interest, and investigative costs are included in each demand.
Sarah Ulmer
