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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- The State Auditor’s Office says that a re-audit of Ottumwa’s sewer project is not necessary.

In the past, a petition was filed by a member of the Ottumwa City Council asking the state to do so; however, the state has said no, and responded that there is no reason or concern to have another audit.

Ottumwa City Administrator Joe Helfenberger says that the city has checks and balances in place to make sure everything is being handled properly.

“We’ve already done our own internal audit/review of it; we did not find any significant discrepancies in anything. I know that it is important to constantly watch over things, to make sure things are properly accounted for, and the state says it has been in the sewer department,” said Helfenberger.

Helfenberger says that although sewer rates have gone up slightly, residents should be happy with the number of federal and state grants the city has received to help with the sewer separation project.