As used in this article, the following words and phrases shall
have the meaning respectively ascribed to them herein, unless the
context shall otherwise require:
AUDIT
To examine and render an opinion as to allowance or rejection
in whole or in part.
CHECK
An ordinary check drawn on a depository bank of the City
by the City Treasurer and payable to the holder of a warrant or warrants
issued by the City.
CLAIM
The documents relating to and stating an amount owing to
the claimant by the City for material or service furnished to the
City, or some action taken by or for the City and for which the City
may or may not be responsible in a liquidated or an unliquidated amount.
A claim is liquidated when the amount due or to become due is made
certain by agreement of the parties or is fixed by law.
WARRANT
An instrument ordering the treasurer of the City to pay out
of a designated fund a specified sum to a named person or party who
or which has filed a claim against the City.
WARRANT CHECK
A combination of warrant and check. It is a negotiable instrument
which orders a depository bank to pay to the order of the payee therein
named. A warrant check authorizes the bank upon which drawn to charge
the City's account with the amount stated therein.
All claims against the City must be presented in writing with
a full account of the items, and no claim shall be allowed except
in accordance with the provisions of this article. A claim may be
the usual statement of account of the vendor or party rendering a
service or other written statement showing the required information.
Claims for salaries or wages of officers or employees need not be
signed by the officer or employee, if a payroll claim is certified
to by the administrative head of a department or group of officers
or employees or his authorized representative that the salaries or
wages stated therein were contracted or incurred for the City government
under authority of law, that the amounts claimed are correct, due
and unpaid and that the amounts are due as salaries and wages for
services performed by the person named.
Before any claim, other than an unliquidated claim, is presented
to the governing body it shall be audited by the clerk, or other officer
or officers charged by law to approve claim affecting his or its area
of government, and thereby approve in whole or in part as correct,
due and unpaid.
In conformance with the requirements of K.S.A. 10-801, the governing
body hereby authorizes and requires the use of a combination warrant
check, prepared by the City Clerk and drawn to the order of the person
or party entitled to receive same and shall specify the nature of
the claim or service for which they were issued and out of what fund
payable.
Warrant checks shall be signed by the Mayor, or in his absence
by the president of the Council and by the City Clerk and the seal
of the City need not be attached, or impressed, or shown by facsimile:
Provided, That a facsimile signature may be used when authorized as
provided by law.
The City Clerk shall keep a correct record of all warrant checks
issued, showing the number, date and amount thereof, on what fund
drawn, and the name of the person or party to whom the same are made
payable.
Before delivering any warrant check to the payee, the City Clerk
shall present the same to the treasurer, who shall enter in a book
kept by him for that purpose, the number, date, and amount of such
warrant check, on what fund drawn, and name of the payee and thereupon
sign the warrant check on the face thereof: Provided, That a facsimile
signature may be used when authorized by the official as provided
by law.
It shall be the City of the City Clerk to keep a record of the
amount of money in the treasury and the particular fund in which such
money is deposited and to keep a record of all contracts creating
a liability against the City and a record of all indebtedness created
by the governing body, in which record there shall be shown the date
of the making of the contract or the creation of the debt, the amount
of the contract or debt, the time payable, and the particular fund
from which said payment is to be made and the said clerk shall, upon
the request of any member of the governing body of which he be clerk
or at the request of any taxpayer of such City or of any person desiring
to enter into a contract with the City or who has any claim against
the City, exhibit such records to such person and for this purpose
the City Clerk shall provide requisition and/or purchase forms in
a form to be approved by the budget and finance committee for indebtedness
not exhibited by contract or purchases made for cash, and no payments
shall be made without such form.