WINONA LAKE — Winona Lake's Parks Director, Holly Hummitch, is reimbursing the town for some of the credit card uses made by her that were deemed improper.

While the Town Council investigated similar activities by other employees that were part of an expansive audit by the Indiana State Board of Accounts that was released in June, the town park board completed its own investigation and approved an ordinance at a meeting on Thursday night recapping the results.

Hummich is reimbursing the town for $1,336, according to Park Board President Kristie Maiers.

The town credit card was used to pay for phone rentals by Hummitch, who did not have a town cell phone or a stipend in the past.

In recent months, since the audit release, the town council has enacted numerous policy changes to improve oversight and record-keeping on town hall credit card and other issues highlighted in the audit.

The investigation spanned several months, and Maiers said they were "surprised and extremely concerned" over the allegations.

Maiers spoke briefly about the issue during the meeting.

"Most importantly, we're using this opportunity to improve our accountability process to prevent this from ever happening again," she said.

Maiers was asked about the investigation after Thursday's meeting.

"We took our due diligence from the time we were given the report in late June ... we've taken all that time to investigate and look for answers, and that's where we stand," she said.

The ordinance approved in the meeting was not released afterward. Maiers said it will be available after the town council signs off on it.

Aside from a statement by Maiers, other park board members, as well as Hummitch, did not speak about the matter during Thursday's meeting.

A week ago, the council announced it had finished its investigation into possible credit card abuse involving other town employees, confirmed that some money had been reimbursed, but did not release details.

News Now Warsaw then filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking to learn who was investigated and how much was reimbursed.

On Wednesday, the town complied wth the request, made 19 documents available to News Now Warsaw, and then posted a statement and the same documents online and invited other media to consider writing an update.

Wednesday's statement by the town mentioned the park board's role in oversight of park-related allegations, but did not include mention of Thursday's meeting.

News Now Warsaw plans to post that story in the very near future.

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