QUINCY - Quincy spent $1,628 for a system to track inventory at the city's public works department.

The city council approved the purchase of a portable scanner and new software to track tools for the department from Wasp Barcode Technologies, a Texas-based company. The decision follows a management letter from the Washington State Auditor's Office.

The auditors selected 17 items worth between $100 and $5,000 as part of their 2010 audit of the city, according to the letter. When the auditors searched for the items, they couldn't find seven of the 17 items and the inventory and tag numbers sheet didn't include 15 of the 17 items.

"Without proper controls, the city may not be able to determine if a loss has occurred," according to the letter.

"We recommend the city...do a complete inventory of all items and update its list as needed."City officials discussed the issue during the council's April retreat, where it was mentioned a scanner might work with the software the department presently uses, according to city records.

"We'd like to purchase a scanning system that puts bar codes on all of our tangible items, so that's the cost to purchase the scanner," City Administrator Tim Snead said.

After researching scanners, officials found they also needed to purchase software to operate them, according to city records. The price included the new software.

"The police department has a printer that is compatible with the requested scanner if the city chooses to print bar code labels," according to city records.