Following the findings of Guthrie Center’s annual audit report, the City Council approved a new employee credit card policy.

The policy follows a previous discussion of City employees occasionally using a city credit card to make a personal online purchase, and then returning that item for a gift receipt. City Administrator Laura Wolfe said the method didn’t leave a paper trail for the City to follow when reviewing purchases. Mayor Mike Herbert said the new policy mentions that employees should always have their supervisor’s permission before using a city credit card, and for it not to be used for purchases of items including alcohol, “If you need to use your own personal credit card in an emergency like an emergency vehicle repair, gas, that kind of stuff, lodging, anything like that you don’t exactly have to have permission from your supervisor. Just after it happens, let your supervisor know, and if you’re going to have an account with the City. The City needs to be aware and don’t do personal business on that account.”

Herbert said once the City Utility Board approves the policy, he expects all entities including the Mary J. Barnett Memorial Library to follow it. The Council moved to form this policy to try to prevent any future large misuses of City funds by employees.