DAPHNE, Ala. — Councilman John Lake on Monday requested a copy of the Utility Board’s policy and procedure for reimbursing travel expenses, citing multiple expenses that he called questionable.

“When I see i(Tunes) purchases and I see Honey Baked Hams and things like that, I question,” Lake said, adding that the utility can raise its rates without an oversight committee.

Councilman Ron Scott, who sits on the Utility Board, said iPods were purchased for technical and training purposes and hams were given out as bereavement gifts to families of employees who have died.

Daphne Utilities’ general manager Rob McElroy echoed Scott’s comments, adding that the utility downloaded two software programs that were used to convert notes from the Palm’s Trio phone system to the Apple iPhone system.

He said the company used to give grieving families flowers but said it was more cost-effective and beneficial to give hams, a practice put in place a couple of years ago.

“It was not only cost effective, but it took care of our families better,” McElroy said.

“On the spreadsheet, it looked kind of damning,” Scott said of the items. “But in the overall scheme, it’s actually innocent.”

See the Dec. 9 Daphne Bulletin for full story.