COAL GROVE — The Coal Grove Village Council has taken another step in addressing its recent credit card issue.

At its June 17 meeting, council members agreed to hire the accounting firm of Delawder and Associates, of Ironton, to provide an independent perusal of village attorney Mark McCown’s legislative review of the use of a village credit card by village clerk Debbie Fields, who made personal purchases with it.

“This is to verify that everything is correct,” council member Joe Ross said.

Ross made the motion to hire the outside firm and fellow member Aaron Stewart seconded that move. It was approved by unanimous vote.

Last month, the council asked McCown to look into allegations that Fields used a business line of credit for personal use. McCown contended after his review that Fields believed she had gotten a personal line of credit at the Sam’s Club in Burlington while Sam’s Club officials had thought she was applying for a business credit card. McCown said Fields only used the card for personal expenses, paid the amount owed and sales tax for her items. When Fields learned the account was for the village, she closed it and informed the village officials, McCown said.

Village leaders have not said what amount was charged, what items were purchased with the credit card or when the error was discovered.