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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-4213400 Robert Street North, Suite 1600, St. Paul, MN, 55101   651.426.7000 www.redpathcpas.com  September 12, 2024 Joe Kloiber City of Columbia Heights 3989 Central Avenue Northeast Columbia Heights, Minnesota 55421 This letter agreement defines the terms and objectives of our engagement and the nature and limitations of the services Redpath and Company, LLC will provide to City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota for the year ended December 31, 2024. Audit Scope and Objectives We will audit the financial statements of the governmental activities, the business-type activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information, and the disclosures, which collectively comprise the basic financial statements of City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024. Accounting standards generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) provide for certain required supplementary information (RSI), such as management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A), to supplement City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota’s basic financial statements. Such information, although not a part of the basic financial statements, is required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board who considers it to be an essential part of financial reporting for placing the basic financial statements in an appropriate operational, economic, or historical context. As part of our engagement, we will apply certain limited procedures to City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota’s RSI in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAS). These limited procedures will consist of inquiries of management regarding the methods of preparing the information and comparing the information for consistency with management’s responses to our inquiries, the basic financial statements, and other knowledge we obtained during our audit of the basic financial statements. We will not express an opinion or provide any assurance on the information because the limited procedures do not provide us with sufficient appropriate evidence to express an opinion or provide any assurance. The following RSI is required by GAAP and will be subjected to certain limited procedures, but will not be audited: Management’s Discussion and Analysis Budgetary Comparison Schedules presented as RSI Schedule of Changes in the Total OPEB Liability and Related Ratios Schedules of Proportionate Share of Net Pension Liability Schedules of Pension Contributions CONTRACT #2024-4213 City of Columbia Heights September 12, 2024 Page 2 We have also been engaged to report on supplementary information other than RSI that accompanies City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota’s financial statements. We will subject the following supplementary information to the auditing procedures applied in our audit of the financial statements and certain additional procedures, including comparing and reconciling such information directly to the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the financial statements or to the financial statements themselves, and other additional procedures in accordance with GAAS, and we will provide an opinion on it in relation to the financial statements as a whole in a separate written report accompanying our auditor’s report on the financial statements or in a report combined with our auditor’s report on the financial statements:  Combining and Individual Nonmajor Fund Financial Statements and Schedules  Schedule of expenditures of federal awards (if applicable) In connection with our audit of the basic financial statements, we will read the following other information and consider whether a material inconsistency exists between the other information and the basic financial statements, or the other information otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work performed, we conclude that an uncorrected material misstatement of the other information exists, we are required to describe it in our report.  Introductory Section  Statistical Section The objectives of our audit are to obtain reasonable assurance as to whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion about whether your financial statements are fairly presented, in all material respects, in conformity with GAAP; and report on the fairness of the supplementary information referred to in the second paragraph when considered in relation to the financial statements as a whole. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not absolute assurance and therefore is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with GAAS and Government Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements, including omissions, can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that, individually or in the aggregate, they would influence the judgment of a reasonable user made based on the financial statements. The objectives also include reporting on:  Internal control over financial reporting and compliance with provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and award agreements, noncompliance with which could have a material effect on the financial statements in accordance with Government Auditing Standards.  Internal control over compliance related to major programs and an opinion (or disclaimer of opinion) on compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of federal awards that could have a direct and material effect on each major program in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and Title 2 U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance). City of Columbia Heights September 12, 2024 Page 3 We will also issue a report on compliance based on the Minnesota Legal Compliance Audit Guide for Cities, promulgated by the State Auditor pursuant to Minnesota Statute 6.65. Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements and Single Audit We will conduct our audit in accordance with GAAS; the standards for financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States; the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996; the provisions of the Uniform Guidance; and the minimum procedures for auditors as prescribed by Minnesota Statute 6.65, and will include tests of your accounting records, a determination of major program(s) in accordance with Uniform Guidance, and other procedures we consider necessary to enable us to express such opinions. As part of an audit in accordance with GAAS and Government Auditing Standards, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We will evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management. We will also evaluate the overall presentation of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and determine whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation. We will plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether from (1) errors, (2) fraudulent financial reporting, (3) misappropriation of assets, or (4) violations of laws or governmental regulations that are attributable to the entity or to acts by management or employees acting on behalf of the entity. Because the determination of waste and abuse is subjective, Government Auditing Standards do not expect auditors to perform specific procedures to detect waste or abuse in financial audits nor do they expect auditors to provide reasonable assurance of detecting waste or abuse. Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, combined with the inherent limitations of internal control, and because we will not perform a detailed examination of all transactions, there is an unavoidable risk that some material misstatements or noncompliance may not be detected by us, even though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance with GAAS and Government Auditing Standards. In addition, an audit is not designed to detect immaterial misstatements or violations of laws or governmental regulations that do not have a direct and material effect on the financial statements or on major programs. However, we will inform the appropriate level of management of any material errors, fraudulent financial reporting, or misappropriation of assets that come to our attention. We will also inform the appropriate level of management of any violations of laws or governmental regulations that come to our attention, unless clearly inconsequential. We will include such matters in the reports required for a Single Audit. Our responsibility as auditors is limited to the period covered by our audit and does not extend to any later periods for which we are not engaged as auditors. We will also conclude, based on the evidence obtained, whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time. City of Columbia Heights September 12, 2024 Page 4 Our procedures will include tests of documentary evidence supporting the transactions recorded in the accounts, tests of the physical existence of inventories, and direct confirmation of certain assets and liabilities by correspondence with selected customers, creditors, and financial institutions. We may also request written representations from your attorneys as part of the engagement. Audit Procedures – Internal Control We will obtain an understanding of the entity and its environment, including the system of internal control, sufficient to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and to design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks and obtain evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinions. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentation, or the override of internal control. Tests of controls may be performed to test the effectiveness of certain controls that we consider relevant to preventing and detecting errors and fraud that are material to the financial statements and to preventing and detecting misstatements resulting from illegal acts and other noncompliance matters that have a direct and material effect on the financial statements. Our tests, if performed, will be less in scope than would be necessary to render an opinion on internal control and, accordingly, no opinion will be expressed in our report on internal control issued pursuant to Government Auditing Standards. As required by the Uniform Guidance, we will perform tests of controls over compliance to evaluate the effectiveness of the design and operation of controls that we consider relevant to preventing or detecting material noncompliance with compliance requirements applicable to each major federal award program. However, our tests will be less in scope than would be necessary to render an opinion on those controls and, accordingly, no opinion will be expressed in our report on internal control issued pursuant to the Uniform Guidance. An audit is not designed to provide assurance on internal control or to identify significant deficiencies or material weaknesses. Accordingly, we will express no such opinion. However, during the audit, we will communicate to management and those charged with governance internal control related matters that are required to be communicated under AICPA professional standards, Government Auditing Standards, and the Uniform Guidance. Audit Procedures – Compliance As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, we will perform tests of City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota’s compliance with the provisions of applicable laws, regulations, contracts, agreements, and grants. However, the objective of our audit will not be to provide an opinion on overall compliance, and we will not express such an opinion in our report on compliance issued pursuant to Government Auditing Standards. City of Columbia Heights September 12, 2024 Page 5 The Uniform Guidance requires that we also plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the auditee has complied with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of federal awards applicable to major programs. Our procedures will consist of tests of transactions and other applicable procedures described in the OMB Compliance Supplement for the types of compliance requirements that could have a direct and material effect on each of City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota’s major programs. For federal programs that are included in the Compliance Supplement, our compliance and internal control procedures will relate to the compliance requirements that the Compliance Supplement identifies as being subject to audit. The purpose of these procedures will be to express an opinion on City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota’s compliance with requirements applicable to each of its major programs in our report on compliance issued pursuant to the Uniform Guidance. The Minnesota Legal Compliance Audit Guide for Cities requires that we test whether the entity has complied with certain provisions of Minnesota statutes. Our audit will include such tests of the accounting records and other procedures as we consider necessary in the circumstances. Other Services We will also assist with the following other services based on information provided by you:  preparation of the financial statements, the schedule of expenditures of federal awards and related notes in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and the Uniform Guidance  preparation of pension related workpapers and journal entries  preparation of OPEB related workpapers and journal entries These nonaudit services do not constitute an audit under Government Auditing Standards and such services will not be conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards. We will perform the services in accordance with applicable professional standards. The other services are limited to the services defined above. We, in our sole professional judgment, reserve the right to refuse to perform any procedure or take any action that could be construed as assuming management responsibilities. You agree to assume all management responsibilities for the financial statements, the schedule of expenditures of federal awards, and related notes, the other services listed above, and any other nonattest services we provide. You will be required to acknowledge in the management representation letter our assistance with the nonaudit services listed above, that you have reviewed and approved those services prior to the issuance of the financial statements, and that you have accepted responsibility for them. Further, you agree to oversee the nonaudit services by designating an individual, preferably from senior management, with suitable skill, knowledge, or experience; evaluate the adequacy and results of those services; and accept responsibility for them. City of Columbia Heights September 12, 2024 Page 6 Responsibilities of Management for the Financial Statements and Single Audit Our audit will be conducted on the basis that you acknowledge and understand your responsibility for (1) designing, implementing, establishing, and maintaining effective internal controls relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, including internal controls over federal awards, and for evaluating and monitoring ongoing activities to help ensure that appropriate goals and objectives are met; (2) following laws and regulations; (3) ensuring that there is reasonable assurance that government programs are administered in compliance with compliance requirements; and (4) ensuring that management and financial information is reliable and properly reported. Management is also responsible for implementing systems designed to achieve compliance with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements. You are also responsible for the selection and application of accounting principles; for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements, schedule of expenditures of federal awards, and all accompanying information in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; and for compliance with applicable laws and regulations (including federal statutes) rules, and the provisions of contracts and grant agreements (including award agreements). Your responsibilities also include identifying significant contractor relationships in which the contractor has responsibility for program compliance and for the accuracy and completeness of that information. You are also responsible for making drafts of financial statements, schedule of expenditures of federal awards, all financial records, and related information available to us; for the accuracy and completeness of that information (including information from outside of the general and subsidiary ledgers); and for the evaluation of whether there are any conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for the 12 months after the financial statements date or shortly thereafter (for example, within an additional three months if currently known). You are also responsible for providing us with (1) access to all information of which you are aware that is relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements, such as records, documentation, identification of all related parties and all related-party relationships and transactions, and other matters; (2) access to personnel, accounts, books, records, supporting documentation, and other information as needed to perform an audit under the Uniform Guidance; (3) additional information that we may request for the purpose of the audit; and (4) unrestricted access to persons within the entity from whom we determine it necessary to obtain audit evidence. At the conclusion of our audit, we will require certain written representations from you about the financial statements; schedule of expenditures of federal awards; federal award programs; compliance with laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements; and related matters. Your responsibilities include adjusting the financial statements to correct material misstatements and confirming to us in the management representation letter that the effects of any uncorrected misstatements aggregated by us during the current engagement and pertaining to the latest period presented are immaterial, both individually and in the aggregate, to the financial statements of each opinion unit taken as a whole. City of Columbia Heights September 12, 2024 Page 7 You are responsible for the design and implementation of programs and controls to prevent and detect fraud, and for informing us about all known or suspected fraud affecting the entity involving (1) management, (2) employees who have significant roles in internal control, and (3) others where the fraud could have a material effect on the financial statements. Your responsibilities include informing us of your knowledge of any allegations of fraud or suspected fraud affecting the entity received in communications from employees, former employees, grantors, regulators, or others. In addition, you are responsible for identifying and ensuring that the entity complies with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, agreements, and grants. You are also responsible for taking timely and appropriate steps to remedy fraud and noncompliance with provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, or grant agreements that we report. Additionally, as required by the Uniform Guidance, it is management’s responsibility to evaluate and monitor noncompliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of federal awards; take prompt action when instances of noncompliance are identified including noncompliance identified in audit findings; promptly follow up and take corrective action on reported audit findings; and prepare a summary schedule of prior audit findings and a separate corrective action plan. The summary schedule of prior audit findings should be available for our review upon the commencement of our audit. You are responsible for identifying all federal awards received and understanding and complying with the compliance requirements and for the preparation of the schedule of expenditures of federal awards (including notes and noncash assistance received, and COVID-19 related concepts, such as lost revenues, if applicable) in conformity with the Uniform Guidance. You agree to include our report on the schedule of expenditures of federal awards in any document that contains, and indicates that we have reported on, the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. You also agree to include the audited financial statements with any presentation of the schedule of expenditures of federal awards that includes our report thereon or make the audited financial statements readily available to intended users of the schedule of expenditures of federal awards no later than the date the schedule of expenditures of federal awards is issued with our report thereon. Your responsibilities include acknowledging to us in the written representation letter that (1) you are responsible for presentation of the schedule of expenditures of federal awards in accordance with the Uniform Guidance; (2) you believe the schedule of expenditures of federal awards, including its form and content, is stated fairly in accordance with the Uniform Guidance; (3) the methods of measurement or presentation have not changed from those used in the prior period (or, if they have changed, the reasons for such changes); and (4) you have disclosed to us any significant assumptions or interpretations underlying the measurement or presentation of the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. You are also responsible for the preparation of the other supplementary information, which we have been engaged to report on, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). You agree to include our report on the supplementary information in any document that contains, and indicates that we have reported on, the supplementary information. You also agree to include the audited financial statements with any presentation of the supplementary information that includes our report thereon. Your responsibilities include acknowledging to us in the written representation letter that (1) you are responsible for presentation of the supplementary information in accordance with GAAP; (2) you City of Columbia Heights September 12, 2024 Page 8 believe the supplementary information, including its form and content, is fairly presented in accordance with GAAP; (3) the methods of measurement or presentation have not changed from those used in the prior period (or, if they have changed, the reasons for such changes); and (4) you have disclosed to us any significant assumptions or interpretations underlying the measurement or presentation of the supplementary information. With regard to publishing the financial statements on your website, you understand that websites are a means of distributing information and, therefore, we are not required to read the information contained in those sites or to consider the consistency of other information on the website with the original document. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining a process for tracking the status of audit findings and recommendations. Management is also responsible for identifying and providing report copies of previous financial audits, attestation engagements, performance audits or other studies related to the objectives discussed in the Audit Scope and Objectives section of this letter. This responsibility includes relaying to us corrective actions taken to address significant findings and recommendations resulting from those audits, attestation engagements, performance audits, or other studies. You are also responsible for providing management’s views on our current findings, conclusions, and recommendations, as well as your planned corrective actions for the report, and for the timing and format for providing that information. Engagement Administration, Fees and Other We understand that your employees will prepare all cash, accounts receivable, or other confirmations we request and will locate any documents selected by us for testing. At the conclusion of the engagement, we will complete the appropriate sections of the Data Collection Form that summarizes our audit findings (if applicable). It is management’s responsibility to electronically submit the reporting package (including financial statements, schedule of expenditures of federal awards, summary schedule of prior audit findings, auditor’s reports, and corrective action plan) along with the Data Collection Form to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. We will coordinate with you the electronic submission and certification. The Data Collection Form and the reporting package must be submitted within the earlier of 30 calendar days after receipt of the auditor’s reports or nine months after the end of the audit period. We will provide copies of our reports to City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota; however, management is responsible for distribution of the reports and the financial statements. Unless restricted by law or regulation, or containing privileged and confidential information, copies of our reports are to be made available for public inspection. The audit documentation for this engagement is the property of Redpath and Company and constitutes confidential information. However, subject to applicable laws and regulations, audit documentation and appropriate individuals will be made available upon request and in a timely manner to oversight agencies, regulators, a federal agency providing direct or indirect funding, or City of Columbia Heights September 12, 2024 Page 9 the U.S. Government Accountability Office for the purposes of a quality review of the audit, to resolve audit findings, or to carry out oversight responsibilities. We will notify you of any such request. If requested, access to such audit documentation will be provided under the supervision of Redpath and Company personnel. Furthermore, upon request, we may provide copies of selected audit documentation to the aforementioned parties. These parties may intend or decide to distribute the copies or information contained therein to others, including other governmental agencies. Unless additional work is requested or required, our fee for these services will be as follows: 2024 Financial audit, including copying and binding of ACFR $47,250 Single audit (assumes one major program) 7,500 Nonaudit services related to GASB 68 and 75 disclosures/calculations disclosures/calculations 4,250 Total $59,000 Out-of-pocket costs, such as confirmation and courier fees, will be billed in addition to the fees stated above. We bill our fees monthly as work progresses and expect payment within thirty (30) days. Each invoice includes a detailed description of the services provided. Amounts over thirty (30) days will be considered delinquent. We reserve the right to assess a 1.5% per month service charge on any balance older than thirty (30) days. In the event it becomes necessary to refer this account to an attorney for collection (whether or not suit is commenced), you will be responsible for payment of all reasonable costs of such collections, including reasonable attorney fees. Our policy is to suspend work if your account becomes overdue by sixty (60) days or more, and work will not be resumed until your account is paid in full. Should we elect to discontinue services, you will be responsible for all time and expenses incurred through the date of termination regardless of whether we have issued a report or other final product. The above fees are based on the anticipated scope of services, anticipated cooperation from your personnel and the assumption that unexpected circumstances will not be encountered. The following circumstances may result in a change in scope of services and an increase in fees:  Significant audit adjustments, internal control deficiencies or compliance findings  New accounting standards  Failure to complete the preparation work by the applicable due dates  Inaccurate records  Turnover in your staff  Significant unanticipated or undisclosed transactions, issues, or other such unforeseeable circumstances  Delays causing scheduling changes or disruption of previously scheduled timing of work City of Columbia Heights September 12, 2024 Page 10  Circumstances requiring revisions to work previously completed or delays in resolution of issues that extend the period of time necessary to complete the audit  Fraud or misuse of public funds Our fees do not include bookkeeping or accounting assistance, preparation of audit workpapers, reconciliations or similar assistance (unless otherwise noted in the sections above). Our fees for such services will be dependent on the level of effort required. Services requested by you that are not included in this engagement letter will be billed dependent on the level of effort required and will be subject to all the terms of this letter. Our fees and rates are adjusted annually for general economic factors. If we are requested or required to provide documents or testimony to support litigation proceedings as a professional service on your behalf (that is, litigation in which we are not a party as a result of our engagement), you will be billed for our time at the current standard rates and all out-of-pocket expenditures, including copying costs and legal fees. Record Keeping Responsibilities The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct requires Redpath and Company, LLC to maintain our independence with regards to certain attestation services provided to City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota. These rules require City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota to take responsibility for all nonattest services. Redpath and Company, LLC cannot serve as custodian for your data in such a way that your data is incomplete and accessible only through Redpath and Company, LLC or the Redpath portal. As such, any financial report, reconciliation, document, and calculation (depreciation schedules, journal entries, etc.) that we prepare or update on your behalf will be sent to you at the completion of each attest or nonattest service. You are responsible for downloading and maintaining these records as well as all supporting documents generated in the normal course of business until the retention period expires. The audit documentation for this engagement will be retained for a minimum of five years after the report release date or for any additional period requested by oversight agencies, regulators, or pass-through entities. If we are aware that a federal awarding agency, pass-through entity, or auditee is contesting an audit finding, we will contact the party(ies) contesting the audit finding for guidance prior to destroying the audit documentation. Confidentiality We may, from time to time and depending on the circumstances, use third-party service providers in serving your account. We may share confidential information about you with these service providers but remain committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of your information. Accordingly, we maintain internal policies, procedures and safeguards to protect the confidentiality of your information. In addition, we will secure confidentiality agreements with all service providers to maintain the confidentiality of your information and we will take City of Columbia Heights September 12, 2024 Page 11 reasonable precautions to determine that they have appropriate procedures in place to prevent the unauthorized release of your confidential information to others. In the event that we are unable to secure an appropriate confidentiality agreement, you will be asked to provide your consent prior to the sharing of your confidential information with the third-party service provider. Furthermore, we will remain responsible for the work provided by any such third-party service providers. Privacy We have established policies and procedures obligating our employees and/or contractors with access to personal information to ensure that any non-public, personal information is protected as confidential and in conformance with security practices designed to keep it secure at all times. We maintain appropriate physical, technological and administrative controls to comply with industry standards and applicable law in safeguarding your personal information from loss, misuse, alteration or destruction (unless the destruction is according to our records retention schedule). We do not sell personal information to third parties. We do not disclose non-public information except as necessary to provide our services (see Confidentiality above) and as required by law. We do not disclose non-public, personal information we receive to our affiliates unless authorized by you, or necessary to provide our services or in the event of an assignment. Governing Law; Dispute Resolution This letter agreement and our services are governed by the laws of the State of Minnesota and applicable federal laws of the United States of America. In the event of any dispute arising out of or in connection with this letter agreement, including any question regarding its existence, validity, termination, or breach hereof, our services, or fees for our engagement (a “Dispute”), City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota and our firm mutually agree to try in good faith to resolve the Dispute through: (i) good faith discussions; and (ii) if not resolved under (i) then, upon the written request of either party, such Dispute may be resolved through mediation by selecting a third-party to help reach an agreement, in accordance with the following paragraph (Mediation). If we are unable to resolve the fee dispute through mediation, then, with the consent of both parties, such disputes may be settled by binding arbitration. We both acknowledge that should a dispute over fees arise that cannot be resolved through mediation, each of us is giving up the right to have the dispute decided in a court of law before a judge or jury. Instead, we are accepting the use of arbitration for resolution. We believe that most disagreements can be resolved to mutual satisfaction in a friendly, non- threatening environment. While we do not expect there to be any problems whatsoever with our relationship, misunderstandings can occur. Therefore, we agree that any Dispute arising under this letter agreement (including the scope, nature and quality of services to be performed by us, our fees or other terms of the engagement) shall be submitted to mediation. A competent and impartial third-party, acceptable to both parties, shall be appointed to mediate, and each disputing party shall pay an equal percentage of the mediator’s fees and expenses. No suit or arbitration proceeding shall be commenced under this letter agreement until at least sixty (60) City of Columbia Heights September 12, 2024 Page 12 days after the mediator’s first meeting with the involved parties. If the dispute requires litigation, the court shall be authorized to impose all defense costs against any non-prevailing party found not to have participated in the mediation process in good faith. Non-Solicitation of Employees In recognition of the importance of our employees, it is hereby agreed that City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota will not solicit our employees for employment or enter into an independent contractor arrangement with any individual who is or was an employee of Redpath and Company, LLC for a period of twelve months following the date of the conclusion of this engagement. If City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota violates this non-solicitation clause, City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota agrees to pay Redpath and Company, LLC a fee, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 25% of the hired person’s last annual salary at Redpath and Company, LLC at the time of violation so as to reimburse Redpath and Company, LLC for the costs of hiring and training a replacement. Reporting We will issue a written report upon completion of our Single Audit and our audit of City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota’s financial statements which will also address other information in accordance with AU-C 720, The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Other Information Included in Annual Reports. Our reports will be addressed to the City Council of City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota. Circumstances may arise in which our report may differ from its expected form and content based on the results of our audit. Depending on the nature of these circumstances, it may be necessary for us to modify our opinions, add a separate section, or add an emphasis-of-matter or other-matter paragraph to our auditor’s report, or if necessary, withdraw from this engagement. If our opinions are other than unmodified, we will discuss the reasons with you in advance. If, for any reason, we are unable to complete the audit or are unable to form or have not formed opinions, we may decline to express opinions or issue reports, or we may withdraw from this engagement. The Government Auditing Standards report on internal control over financial reporting and on compliance and other matters will state that (1) the purpose of the report is solely to describe the scope of testing of internal control and compliance, and the results of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control on compliance, and (2) the report is an integral part of an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards in considering the entity’s internal control and compliance. The Uniform Guidance report on internal control over compliance will state that the purpose of the report on internal control over compliance is solely to describe the scope of testing of internal control over compliance and the results of that testing based on the requirements of the Uniform Guidance. Both reports will state that the report is not suitable for any other purpose. City of Columbia Heights September 12,2024 Page 13 This letter agreement supersedes all prior communications, understandings, and agreements, whether oral or written, in connection with this engagement. Amendments to this engagement must be confirmed by both parties. If you have any questions relating to the terms of this letter agreement, please call me and t will be happy to review them with you. Thank you for the opportunity to be of service. If you agree with the terms of this engagement, please sign this letter and return it to us via email. Sincerely, REDPATH AND COMPANY, LLC eh** Rebecca M. Petersen RMP/tgs Response This letter correctly the understanding of City of Columbia Heights, Minnesota. ( Signature Flnance Director City Manager Title Title 7 q 2 Date Date Nonaudit Services The individual(s) assigned to oversee the nonaudit services is the finance director, unless indicated below: Joseph Kloiber, Finance Dlrector (name and title)