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Paul “Andy” Stewart
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Tab 11
Ledger, The (Lakeland, FL)
July 19, 2012
Town to Revisit Depot Committee Ordinance
Author: Phil Attinger
DUNDEE Town leaders still are not sure yet what to do about the Margaret Kampsen Historic
Dundee Depot. A controversy exists surrounding the depot's being open only two days each
week — Thursday and Saturday.
For now, the town pays staff to keep the building open those days, but other city facilities — also
not open five days per week — are staffed exclusively by volunteers. Kevin Kitto, president of
the Dundee Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber would be willing to help the city staff
the building, because visitors to the town don't want to find the focal point of the community isn't
even open. "When people go (to see it) and it's closed, it's not the focal point," Kitto said.
The depot had been staffed by volunteers from the Dundee Historic Depot Committee, but the
town took it over in the past two months over concerns about accountability and volunteer access
to a city checking account associated with the depot.
The Town Commission had considered revising the ordinance that formed the Depot Committee
after a joint meeting with the committee on June 12, but opted last week to table any further
action until Town Manager Andy Stewart and Town Attorney John Murphy can look into the
matter.
Stewart has suggested bringing the ordinance to the next Town Commission meeting Tuesday to
let commissioner decide then whether they want to make any changes. If they do, Stewart said,
they can schedule two readings with a public hearing. The public may have a lot to say.
Some Depot Committee members wanted access to money the town holds for the historical
landmark so they can buy items to use in fundraisers. But town staff and auditors say there has to
be accountability for the money.
When the five-member Depot Committee was formed in 1999 to oversee the building's operation
— including fundraising and sending financial reports to the Town Commission — bank
accounts were opened using the town's Federal Tax Identification Number. At that time, the
commission budgeted amounts ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 per year to contribute to the
depot's operation. That money was placed into a Dundee Historic Restoration Committee bank
account accessible by two committee members.
Stewart said two people could write checks on the account and the town's Finance Department
did not oversee use of the money. That was a problem, said Mike Brynjulfson, a Lakeland-based
CPA. In 2005, he noticed a transfer between two town accounts, but the money was being used
by people who were committee members, not town employees.
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