Muddy mess needs attention

By Democrat Editorial Board | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, August 21, 2008

Circuit Clerk Eddie Walker walked into a mud pit wearing galoshes last fall.

And he’s just now able to begin peeling some of the rain gear off so he can dig into the mess.

No one, not even Walker, knows exactly what he may find. It may be nothing. It may be plenty.

Walker won the job of circuit clerk in August and wasn’t scheduled to take office until January. But when former Circuit Clerk M.L. “Binkey” Vines violated a judge’s orders, Walker got the call early.

But it wasn’t just the timetable that played a factor into Walker’s mess.

Vines was indicted, pleaded guilty and later removed from office as a result of 13 counts of embezzlement. For months prior, Vines admitted to poor accounting practices in the office.

In an office in which accounting was key, the mud was piling up.

Walker stepped in during November and began cleaning up as best he could. New employees and new procedures started things off on the right foot.

Now, it’s time to look at the checking accounts previously manned by Vines. The accounts have been frozen for months, at Walker’s request. But they contain money that belongs to someone and it’s time to find the rightful owners.

The county has funded a part-time accountant to help dig through the muddy accounts, and hopefully the mess will be gone soon.

When the mud is gone and the galoshes come off, the taxpayers of Adams County can know their money will soon see sunnier days.