McKean County Emergency Management director Steve Nelson
explained Friday that a line item listed by the Elk County Auditors
for their 2004 audit was backed by receipts, unlike what was
initially reported.

He said there was some kind of a processing error and he was
actually reimbursed for a basic tactical entry force course that
was held in Smethport in 2004. He adds that even though the check
was made out to him, he handed the check over to the McKean County
Controller.

“They made it out to me and I turned it in to the controller’s
office in the county,” said Nelson. “It was reimbursement. The
receipts were provided after the payment was made to the
county.”

The Era has a copy of the audit report prepared by the Elk
County Auditors for 2004 and noticed a check made out to Nelson in
the amount of $757.50.

According to the audit report, Nelson received this
reimbursement for training and meals, but there were no receipts to
prove the need for reimbursement.

Nelson said he does not know what happened to the initial
receipts, but adds that the controller’s office was able to make
copies and send them to the Elk County Commissioners for their
examination.

Nelson explained that the training was held in Smethport for all
patrols in the area, including members of Bradford Township police,
the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Emergency Management
members, among others.

The item mentioned above did not go under investigation with the
state auditor general as did other items in the audit report.

Elk County had been host of the Northwest Central Emergency
Response Group which receives funds from the Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Association for trainings and equipment as needed.

NCERG encompasses six counties including McKean, Elk, Jefferson,
Cameron, Clarion and Clearfield. Cameron County is now the host and
will distribute funds as needed.

PEMA receives the funds from the federal government and
disburses them to the different states as requested.