Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
‘Unexpected’ fuel card turns up during fraud probe
COLFAX — The State Auditor’s Office released a report June 13 on an investigation into the Port of Whitman County.
According to the auditor’s report, the investigation resulted from an inconsistency noticed during a company fuel card reconciliation in May 2021.
The report states that during the reconciliation, Port officials found that purchases on company fuel cards did not align with company vehicle use in the previous year, and the amount of fuel purchased could not be justified by company vehicle use alone.
Following the discovery of the discrepancy, the Port’s finance director requested all fuel cards be turn in on May 7, 2021, the report stated.
On May 13, Port then-Executive Director Joe Poire presented an “unexpected” fuel card, which was used to purchase $12,527 worth of fuel between May 2011 and May 2022, the report stated.
The finance director found multiple fuel purchases in Rosalia on the card, a town which Poire drove regularly through on his commute to work, the report stated.
The Port informed the State Auditor’s Office of a possible loss of public funds on May 26, 2021, providing the State Auditor’s Office with the files necessary to conduct an investigation, the report stated.
The audit identified multiple “questionable” purchases on Poire’s card, which totaled at least $2,672, the report said.
The State Auditor’s Office interviewed Poire, who had since changed positions, in February 2022, the report said.
In the interview, Poire claimed he sometimes would become distracted and “did not always remember to return the card to a Port vehicle after use,” the report stated.
The report also mentioned that Poire claimed the card was used solely for company vehicles, which he would use to commute following late meetings.
The State Auditor’s Office concluded its findings in the report by highlighting internal control weaknesses and recommendations for improvement.
The weaknesses outlined in the report included an absence of policy regarding company vehicle commute use, the need for regular fuel card inventory, and the need for recordkeeping of odometer readings, fuel receipts and logs.
The report also featured a response from the Port, which stated “After identifying the potential loss of public funds took immediate steps to address its controls in this area.”
Reid Thompson is an intern reporter at the Whitman County Gazette. Reid is enrolled at Syracuse University, where he studies journalism and international relations.
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