Audit: Nebraska roads worker gave pavement bits for beer

ORD, Neb. (AP) - A Nebraska roads supervisor was fired after state auditors alleged he exchanged asphalt millings for beer.

State auditors shared the allegations of the unnamed employee with Nebraska Department of Roads officials in November. The employee was relieved of his position a month later, the Lincoln Journal Star (https://bit.ly/2kgNXOp ) reported.

Auditors alleged that the millings were saved from a 2016 resurfacing project on Nebraska 70, northeast of Ord.

Asphalt millings are normally used for filling worn road shoulders or are recycled for new pavement. They’re also sometimes sold to local governments.

Several people in the Ord area also admitted to receiving the millings for their driveways in place of gravel. At least one person said the employee allegedly “received payments of beer in exchange,” according to a letter from state Auditor Charlie Janssen’s office.

Auditors said the employee may have violated laws governing use of state equipment by using Nebraska Department of Roads trucks to deliver the millings.

The newspaper was unable to reach Valley County prosecutor Brandon Hanson for comment on whether the employee will face misdemeanor criminal charges for misuse of state property.

Audit Manager Cindy Janssen, who is unrelated to Charlie Janssen, said the office was unable to determine the quantity of millings given away because the Roads Department doesn’t track millings unless they’re sold.

“NDOR will continue to ensure that state assets are accounted for and safeguarded to the best of our abilities,” the department said in response to the audit.

NDOR officials said they will review policies for handling millings statewide.

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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, https://www.journalstar.com