The City of Potterville is without a city manager.
The Potterville City Council removed Wanda Darrow with cause for misrepresenting the City Council, neglecting her duties and violating the city’s code and charter.
Tuesday night, Potterville City Attorney Michael Homier told News 10 that roughly 50 unauthorized checks were discovered between March and June of 2018 totaling over $24,000.
“The city adopted a resolution removing the city manager with cause pursuant to the city charter”, said Homier.
“There's a variety of different findings that the council made in that resolution including mismanagement of funds with their Rural Development and Sewer accounts as well as their Tax Increment Finance Authority account.”
Mayor Bruce Kring said during the meeting that the decision was hard but necessary.
“She hid an original theft from the city”, Kring stated.
The city's investigation shows that checks were made to Darrow's husband, James Darrow for contract services, which included Dump Your Junk, an annual recycling event.
During the meeting, Homier announced that Dump Your Junk’s address listing was Darrow’s home address.
Checks were also made out Darrow’s son Edward as well as Erik and Lukas Lager for contract services.
Darrow's attorney told the city council that the former city manager claims that she did not sign-off on those checks.
The investigation also alleges that Edward Darrow was caught on camera stealing city owned-equipment.
According to city officials, over $21,000 has been deposited to the city's Rural Development account by unknown sources.
Darrow’s attorney says the money was deposited by the former city manager herself, in addition to family and friends to help settle the unauthorized payments.
“I think that it being her son and the betrayal, I think that all contributed to not making the best choices”, said Darrow’s attorney Linda Widener.
“I do not believe that there has been any intention on Wanda Darrow's part to do anything to hurt this city.”
The investigation is now being handled by the Michigan State Police.
There is no word yet on whether or not criminal charges will be made.
