Waterworks Department in Hot Water

The results of the Louisiana State Auditors investigation involving allegations of the misappropriation of funds by the DeSoto Parish Waterworks have been sent to the governor’s office and other officials for review. Auditors are now asking the DeSoto Districts ethics board to look into the possible wrongful spending of thousands of dollars.

According to the state auditor a water works system administrator, John Neilson, who was not available for comment was paid about 35 thousand dollars to perform the duties of the districts commissioner which is a possible violation. Neilson was also implicated in another possible violation of district policy when he received a 9 thousand dollar per year pay raise and 6 thousand paid as an incentive. Board members told the auditors office that they knew Neilson had received the pay raise but were not aware that any rules were broken. Along with these allegations there are also others that have followed all concerning Mr. Neilson, and some even including his wife who apparently received a paycheck from the district when she performed clerical work in the absence of the office manager.

Neilson also sold about 500 dollars of personal lawn equipment to the district but then falsified the documents to make it appear that the district had bought the equipment from a legitimate vendor. In a written statement Mr. Neilson did admit to the state auditor that he was wrong for what he had done and that he was only trying to obtain quality equipment for the district. The allegations don't stop there. Neilson is also implicated in the misuse of the office's credit card. According to the district statement, 124 meals were charged totaling more than 25 hundred dollars. Neilson says he thought he was allowed to buy lunch for himself and his employees. .