Troglodytes dance in streets as at long last, audit announced by state's Board of Accounts.

Not really. But while we're here, a number!

Pride be damned: Arm the Aw-Dit, and full steam ahead.

Pride: Kiss your Coffey good morning, and your Aw-Dit goodbye.

Daniel Suddeath revealed the punch line on Twitter two days ago, and I've been doing the grand guffaw ever since. The Messer for Mayor camp will now inply that Jack's endorsement of an Aw-Dit was purely tactical, designed to flush the agitated Copperhead onto the tarmac from his hiding place in untrimmed shrubbery, after which he would be flattened into snake cakes by Li'l Stevie's diesel tricycle.

Let's just say I'm not buying. Play it sweet and low, Charlie.

New Albany City Council could have to repay for audit

... At the end of Monday’s City Council meeting, Councilman Jack Messer announced that he agrees with the New Albany police and fire unions that a private audit of city finances is needed ... Messer said he fought Councilman Dan Coffey when he first suggested another audit beyond the state’s analysis, but has changed his mind ...

... But Charles Pride, supervisor of cities, towns and libraries for the state board of accounts, said in a phone interview another audit would be a duplicate service. “We very well could ask the responsible official to pay that money back,” Pride said. “We would consider any kind of an audit which we do to be a duplication of service. The taxpayers would be paying for that service twice.”

Coffey suckles at cash cow's teat as crowd adjourns for a soda and some popcorn.

In fairness, the 1st district's Dan "Copperhead Lift Station" Coffey vowed to return to his outspoken (badly spoken) ways once he relinquished the council presidency and returned to his familiar rock outcropping, so pity the current chair, John Gonder, for attempting a response approximating reason at a time of acrimony and panic. The Tribune's Daniel Suddeath spies the theatrical production from the mezzanine and reports here: No rate increase on Monday’s New Albany City Council docket.

Since the sewer board manages the utility’s operations, Gonder said it’s practical to let its members form a plan before the council weighs the matter. The council has to OK a rate increase before it takes effect. “It may be premature to meet to talk about it until they’ve decided what their stance is going to be,” Gonder said.

But Councilman Dan Coffey isn’t interested in waiting. He said he doesn’t trust the sewer board and wants a private review of the utility. “The sewer is nothing more than a cash cow and we need a full blown audit to see where this money has went,” he said.

Monday evening draws near: It's showtime!

The Tribune's Daniel Suddeath previews tomorrow night's episode of America's Favorite Grandstands and surveys the topic most likely to be the subject of our most famous ward heeler's frequent, non-Robert's Rules caterwauls.

CM Coffey provides a memorable quote in Suddeath's Sunday article: State audit raises questions about New Albany’s bookkeeping.

But Coffey said he would against spending more money on employees or computers until there’s more accountability.

“I’m tired of spending taxpayers’ money on things that don’t work,” he said.

Finally we agree on something. I, too, resent spending my tax dollars on things that don't work. How much council pay does Coffey draw from the taxpayers ... and for what?

Never mind. We'll soon begin the process of redressing that particular bit of overpayment via the Pants Down Progressive Political Action Committee (PDPPAC).

Meanwhile, here's the agenda.

Yippee.