City of Audubon missing funds being investigated
News | Published on February 1, 2023 at 11:47am EST | Author: frazeevergas
0Payroll discrepancy involves Frazee admin
By Robert Williams
Editor
Frazee city administrator Stephanie Poegel began her new position here in December, but a discrepancy at her former job as the city clerk-treasurer for the City of Audubon has lingered into the new year and now the Becker County Sheriff’s Office is investigating alleged missing funds.
Poegel was unable to fully comment on the record while the allegations are under investigation, but did confirm to the Forum that no crime had been committed.
According to a Becker County Sheriff’s Office dispatch report on Tuesday, Jan. 10, Poegel’s replacement in Audubon, Shallene Stephenson, reported missing city funds totaling $7,235. Stephenson stated she believed that Poegel “wrote herself a check.”
City attorney Patrick Bakken said the council had discussed a possible payroll discrepancy at the January city council meeting. However, according to Bakken, the council approved payroll disbursement at that meeting.
The city office has yet to publish minutes from that meeting as of Jan. 26. A check summary register is published monthly in the council’s meeting minutes, which includes any payments that would be made to Poegel, including payroll.
The incident remains under investigation by the sheriff’s office, according to Becker County Sheriff Todd Glander.