Former Alburnett clerk will plead to embezzling

CEDAR RAPIDS - A former Alburnett city clerk will plead guilty Monday in Linn County District Court to embezzling more than $102,000 from the city from 2006 to 2009.

Amber Franklin, 45, of Alburnett, is charged with first-degree theft. She resigned in January 2010 after the mayor asked her research public accounting firms to audit the city's finances.

According to a state audit report, $102,980 was misappropriated and used for personal gain.

Franklin paid herself $12,664 in unauthorized payroll and $2,709 for paid time off she wasn't entitled to receive, along with $48,812 for which there was no explanation or support, according to the state auditor's report.

There also were improper disbursements of $6,071 worth of personal purchases Franklin made using the city's credit card and $6,852 in personal purchases made with the city's checking account, according to the audit. Checks for an additional $7,245 were issued for petty cash.