Another day and another layer of the M.L. “Binkey” Vines onion is peeled away. The latest pungent peel included the revelation that Adams County’s self-professed embezzling circuit clerk has been bouncing checks to the county.

Amazingly, the county, apparently in an act of good will and perhaps in hopes Vines would get his act together, has been covering for the rubber checks.

The county appears to have had its heart in the right place. Now, however, the county needs to put Vines in his rightful place — before another judge to explain his latest financial flounder.

Earlier this week, county officials said Vines owed nearly $40,000 in both back payroll reimbursements and the current one due this week.

Vines not only pleaded guilty to embezzling public funds from the county coffers — thankfully Vines has since repaid the funds — he has now essentially been borrowing taxpayer money to pay his own staff.

In doing so, Vines appears to have broken state law by writing bad checks. The county needs to prosecute Vines.

Of all people, Vines, as someone entrusted to be a steward of public funds, should know better.

Even after all the problems brought forth by state auditors and all the promises by Vines that things will get better, nothing seems to have changed in the circuit clerk’s office.

As the onion keeps being peeled, the problems continue to reek and the public is ready to wash their hands of the whole smelly mess — including Vines.