Emails Show Tension within Sonoma County Departments Over DEMA Payments

New emails from the County of Sonoma show tension between the county’s health officials and the auditor. The Press Democrat reports that the County Auditor Erick Roeser objected to markups from DEMA for their defense subcontractor. Roeser was ordered to pay them anyway in order to prevent DEMA from halting their services. DEMA would stop running two shelter sites in the beginning of May this year right as the county paid them at least $445-thousand for their services. DEMA has faced scrutiny for their billing practices and the County has faced criticism over falling behind on payments to DEMA.