The state auditor has completed a special investigation of the non-profit association created to support a southwest Iowa fire department.
The Corning Volunteer Fire Association was created in 2006 to support the activities of the volunteer firefighters in the community. Eight years later, city officials found out the proper paperwork hadn’t been filed with the IRS, so the group didn’t quality as a non-profit.
That means the funds it raised should have been considered city funds. Auditors say the money should only have been used for fire department operations. Instead, nearly $4000 was improperly spent on fitness club memberships for volunteer firefighters and about $1800 was spent on holiday parties during that eight-year period.
The association got all its paperwork in order a year ago and now qualifies as a non-profit group. That means it can spend its money on fitness and social activities for the firefighters.