Warnock tells WLBT he embraces audit, but will there be a full investigation?

Rudy Warnock has told WLBT that he welcomes an audit of his engineering firms dealings with Madison County. But if, as Warnock says, all the subcontracts through the county have been approved, then is it likely the smoking gun exists elsewhere? If there are subcontracts outside of the scope of the Board of Supervisors approval, then will the investigation go further beyond the Madison County Courthouse to find them?

Of course Warnock can be welcoming. He already knows what they're going to find in Madison County's records. As has always been the case, the question isn't whether there were approved subcontracts. The question is whether there are UNapproved subcontracts.

A Madison County engineer said he welcomes an audit of his engineering firm by the state auditor's office.

After an independent audit was done on Rudy Warnock by a group of residents, Madison's mayor wanted to take a closer look at fees he charged her city.

That audit was done by engineer Richard McAfee of Florida.

In his report he claimed to have found multiple instances of excessive charges to the City of Madison and questionable payments to the Warnock and Associates Engineering Firm.

After examining the report, Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler said she believes Warnock sub-contracted much of the work out for a lower fee.

She also accuses Warnock of redesigning road projects simply to increase his profit.

In a press release Tuesday, Warnock stated "I have done absolutely nothing wrong and I embrace this examination by the state auditor."

Warnock went on to say he is looking forward to the results and will be waiting by the phone for the mayor's apology when it is over.

It's not like there isn't already proof of the willingness to skirt the rules of Open Meetings Law as the Madison County Journal reported in October 2009.

the Mississippi Ethics Commission hearing officer found that Northern District Transportation Commissioner Bill Minor and Southern District Transportation Commissioner Wayne Brown did "knowingly and willfully" violate the Open Meetings Act when they met with District 2 Supervisor Tim Johnson and County Engineer Rudy Warnock at Nick's Restaurant on Aug. 10.