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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 14, 2005 Gold Hill returns chief’s reimbursement Top cop had submitted an $800 check to the city to repay questionable charges on his department credit card By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune GOLD HILL — After months of scrutinizing Police Chief Dean Muchow’s credit card charges for gift certificates, group meals and alcohol, the City Council decided to restore his charging privileges — and return an $800 reimbursement check Muchow wrote to the city on July 4. "I would like to give you that money back," said Councilwoman Kathleen Price at the Monday’s council meeting. Though some members agreed, no formal vote was taken. Council members struggling to fund the city’s two-officer police department spent two months disputing Muchow’s credit card bills. The chief added $4,183.76 to the city’s Visa account in April and May. Of particular concern were $900 in food and gift card charges, they said. Councilwoman Donna Silva still questioned Muchow’s expenditures. "I don’t want to see any more charges like this," Silva said at the meeting. "Is any of this going to be reimbursed? I want to see payment for the alcohol purchases." Advertisement Muchow said the food and gift cards were given to volunteers for their help in remodeling the city’s former library space into a 1,600-square-feet police station. Meal recipients also included council members and police reserves. Silva said as the city prepares to test voter willingness to fund another levy, it must demonstrate fiscal responsibility. A $115,599 police grant will run out July 31, and the city’s public safety levy will end June 30, 2007. "Where I come from, volunteer means to volunteer — without any payment," Silva said. "I appreciate everybody’s work, but I wish we’d saved this money for another officer." In an undated letter in the July council packet, Muchow addressed council concerns. "The (credit card) spending has caused some questions among city officials," Muchow wrote. But Muchow added he did not think his charges were "improper or mistaken," but he did not object to a "retroactive accounting." "Therefore, please accept this donation of $800 which I’m sure is far more than any out of policy, retroactive, expenditure, which may arise," he wrote.Councilwoman and police liaison Jan Fish said she had not had an opportunity to question Muchow directly. But she said the chief was not given the city’s spending policy until the June 6 council meeting. Fish said Muchow had been misinformed about the department’s budget. "He was told (by former City Recorder Darla DenHerder) there was extra money in the account that needed to be spent, or it would walk away," said Fish. Muchow, flanked by his sergeant and five reserve officers, sat smiling as Mayor Sherry Young and Councilman Gus Wolf agreed with Price’s request to return the chief’s reimbursement check. "I think there’s been a miscommunication," said Wolf. Wolf and Muchow say the city saved approximately $30,000 using volunteers for the police station remodel. "We built a facility for a minimal cost of $10,000 that would have cost over $50,000," said Muchow. Young’s accounting of actual time and materials spent on the remodel show a donation total of $14,054. She lists a "final construction value" as $23,861.92. Muchow’s letter also stated he had personally spent $6,520 on the station project — including $2,945 in labor and materials for station signs. "Anything I pay for just establishes more ‘bragging rights’ to the completion of the project and other department goals," he wrote. On Wednesday, Young said Muchow’s signs were not yet constructed. But the building materials were previously owned by Muchow, and not purchased on city credit cards, she said. Muchow was not available for comment Wednesday. But after Monday night’s meeting, Muchow said he was glad the council would be returning his personal check. "I think they realized $800 is a lot of money for a blue-collar fellow," he said. He would repay the city for his alcohol purchases, Muchow said. "I had a couple microbrews with dinner," he said. "I will be reimbursing them for that — I think it’s about $10." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail Gold Hill returns chief�s reimbursement ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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