ATLANTA — The commissioner of Atlanta's Watershed Department says an auditor is making it seem as if she is not doing her job.
Channel 2 Action News was the only television station to talk with Commissioner Jo Ann Macrina about a recently released audit of the city's largest department.
Channel 2’s Dave Huddleston broke several stories about the Watershed Department audits and has been following the story for months.
The audit says 10,000 water meters are unaccounted for, internal thefts are rampant, keys are being left in doors of secured buildings, and multiple systems are being used to track inventory.
Macrina says she has been dealing with theft since taking over in 2011, where she immediately fired a person for stealing more than $58,000 in water meters.
[ In August, Macrina fired 13 other employees for a variety of issues. ]
Huddleston asked Macrina why she should keep her job.
“People should be asking themselves, ‘Why is she the one being attacked when she’s the only one putting in the controls?’” said Macrina.
For example, she said she has implemented the use of a software system to track inventory.
But the conversion has been slowed so other city departments can catch up to her.
Macrina said the reports surfaced because of her work. She said she is shattering a workplace culture that was out of control.
“People don’t want this change, people want to continue in this culture and why is that? Well, if you think about it, you’ll come to the same conclusion that I have,” said Macrina.
She said for one, someone is holding people accountable and establishing rules, and no one likes that.
“I feel very strongly in my responsibility and obligation to the rate payers to get to the heart of this matter. I am digging deep, I am doing that,” said Macrina.