CHARLESTON, W.Va. --  Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper wants an investigation into a $172,000 check recently received by county parks officials.

The check, part of a natural gas lawsuit settlement, was brought to the attention of Kanawha County Parks Director Jeff Hutchinson at about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, just in time for Hutchinson to tell members of the county parks board about the check at a regular meeting on Thursday.

But Carper said county staff discovered the check may have actually been received on Dec. 8, leading Carper to wonder why it sat around for a week before Hutchinson or the parks board was told about it.

"I don't know," Carper said Friday. "That's why I'm having it looked into."

On Thursday, Carper sent a letter to parks board vice-president Anna Dailey requesting an investigation into when the check was received and who handled it.

"If it is true that the check was, in fact, received on Dec. 8, 2009, and not deposited into the KCPRC account and its existence was concealed from the KCPRC director and board, I find this to be inexcusable conduct," the letter said.

Hutchinson said Friday he didn't know who handled the check before he received it, or when it arrived. He said Dailey had asked for an investigation.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. --  Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper wants an investigation into a $172,000 check recently received by county parks officials.

The check, part of a natural gas lawsuit settlement, was brought to the attention of Kanawha County Parks Director Jeff Hutchinson at about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, just in time for Hutchinson to tell members of the county parks board about the check at a regular meeting on Thursday.

But Carper said county staff discovered the check may have actually been received on Dec. 8, leading Carper to wonder why it sat around for a week before Hutchinson or the parks board was told about it.

"I don't know," Carper said Friday. "That's why I'm having it looked into."

On Thursday, Carper sent a letter to parks board vice-president Anna Dailey requesting an investigation into when the check was received and who handled it.

"If it is true that the check was, in fact, received on Dec. 8, 2009, and not deposited into the KCPRC account and its existence was concealed from the KCPRC director and board, I find this to be inexcusable conduct," the letter said.

Hutchinson said Friday he didn't know who handled the check before he received it, or when it arrived. He said Dailey had asked for an investigation.

Reach Rusty Marks at rustyma...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1215.