Auditors find more than $110,000 missing from Bixby coffers

BIXBY, Okla. (AP) -- An investigation started when $11,000 came up missing from Bixby's city treasury has found 10 times more in cash has disappeared. City Manager Micky Webb initiated a probe into

Thursday, January 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BIXBY, Okla. (AP) -- An investigation started when $11,000 came up missing from Bixby's city treasury has found 10 times more in cash has disappeared. City Manager Micky Webb initiated a probe into possible misappropriation of city funds and "inappropriate behavior" of several city employees nine months ago.

The latest findings bring the amount of missing money to $115,349, Webb said Wednesday. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was asked to look into the matter in April. As a result, embezzlement charges were filed in November against city utilities superintendent Benny Earl Fugitt and city garage employee Wayne Barry Hubbard. Fugitt, Hubbard and four other employees in the city's public works department were suspended with pay.

Webb said a tribunal comprised of him, Police Chief Mike Webster and Police Supervisor Sgt. Anthony Stephens reviewed the suspensions and decided that five of the six should be fired: Hubbard, Charles Hill, Clay Hobbs, David Watkins and Jim Blankenship. Employee Josh Jones was reinstated and is on probation, Webb said.

In addition, Webb said Bixby Fire Chief Terry Bowlin resigned in December after he was suspended without pay. The city's assistant treasurer, Debbie Todoroff, also has resigned. Fugitt is accused of spending more than $1,300 to restore his personal truck. During his review before city leaders, Fugitt said he had "new evidence" to present in the criminal proceedingsagainst him. Webb said the tribunal upheld Fugitt's suspension without pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

Hubbard was accused of using $14.48 of the city's money to buy parts for his vehicle. Webb said he started the investigation when he showed up at the city garage and noticed a "lot of people just hanging around." He said that caused him to start looking at the public works department, and when he did, he suspected misuse of city funds and property.