Mount Isa Community Development Association managed $40,000 when donations were collected in the Mount Isa community to be put towards a new town clock, said acting manager Janette McLuckie.

“Once the clock was installed and all expenses covered, the remaining funds and responsibility for the upkeep of the clock was handed over to the council in 2013, as per the signed agreement between MICDA Inc and council,” she said. 

Former Mount Isa businessman and long serving Rotarian, Bob Keoghan, 90, led the fundraising efforts for the clock. Earlier in October he said funds were handed to council but that no receipt was exchanged.  Council representatives also said they were unable to find the money. 

Deputy mayor Phil Barwick said on Tuesday said “they (council staff) know it is there. I just don’t know the detail on how much has been spent.” He referred to maintenance spent on the clock.

The issue of the missing funds were raised when Mr Keoghan complained recently that the clock’s chimes were vandalised and that they should be repaired by council. Mayor Joyce McCulloch said it was not a council priority. 

260 online readers voted in an online poll which asked if council should repair the clock chimes. 73.85 per cent of voters said council should.

17.69 per cent saw no need for the clock to chime.

8.46 per cent of voters chose “we have a town clock?” 

Because it is an online poll with no limitation on filter, there were 10 international votes among the results. The United States, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland and Vietnam contributed in a minor way to the poll’s results. These all said ‘yes’ to the question except one New Zealander voter, who answered with “we have a town clock?”