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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL--August 9, 2010 3 2. A. TCAAP Reuse and Public Sale Update (continued) Councilmember Holden stated the City should request something in writing from the GSA acknowledging the letter and the issues. Councilmember Grant stated the request could also include a response from the GSA regarding g g the issues and concerns raised by the City. - Councilmember Holmes stated the City should set a deadline for the GSA to respond to this letter because the City needs to have answers before the sale takes place. Councilmember McClung agreed the City had legitimate questions and concerns and the sale of this property impacts the City of Arden Hills, the residents, and the region. It is incumbent upon them to answer these questions and the City could go to their Congressional Representatives and let them know the GSA is stonewalling the City. Mayor Harpstead stated the City could ask for a response to the concerns and questions brought forward but the City would not be able to stop the process of the public sale even if the GSA chose not to respond. He requested City Planner Beekman follow up with the GSA and request a written response from them regarding the receipt of the letter and the questions and concerns outlined in that letter. B. 2009 City Financial Statements Finance Director Sue Iverson stated the City's 2009 Financial Statements have been completed and submitted to both the State Auditor and the GFOA. The auditors have issued an unqualified, "clean", opinion of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2009. Mr. Aaron Neilson, Malloy, Montague, Karnowski, Radosevich & Co. P.A., stated the reports that were reviewed by the auditor included the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), the Special Purpose Report, and the Management Report. Mr. Neilson began to review the Audit summary including the total general fund balance, the City's total net assets, the combined ending fund balances for governmental funds, and the combined ending working capital balance for enterprise funds. As a note of information, the changes to Auditing Standards are increasing and changing. With these changes the City may see increased findings. This does not mean that the City has done anything wrong compared to previous years, only that the reporting requirements have become much stricter. Many cities are experiencing these findings, and the findings are expected to increase for all cities as these standards become stricter. The City continues to have the finding related to "Segregation of Duties". The "Segregation of Duties" finding is common to organizations the size of Arden Hills. Staff continues to review and make improvements to its internal control structure on an ongoing basis and attempts to maximize the segregation of duties in all areas within the limits of the staff available. The City received a comment on "Payroll Declarations", this comment results from the increased use of electronic funds transfers, specifically"direct deposit".