An internal memo sent last week by Mercer County Commissioners to all of the county's elected officials and department heads said county-issued credit cards have been misused.

Wednesday, a livid Commissioner Olivia Lazor turned in her credit card with a series of policy recommendations to the county fiscal office.

Although Mrs. Lazor did not elaborate, she said at least one incidence of credit-card abuse was serious enough that Chairman Commissioner Cloyd E. "Gene" Brenneman, a second-term Republican, called her at home on Sunday.

"That is very unusual," said Mrs. Lazor, a third-term Democrat, of the weekend call. Brenneman did not return calls for comment.

The internal memo was sent last Tuesday.

"Recently, a number of county employees, most likely by mistake or oversight, have not adhered to the travel policy, especially as it applies to the use of the county credit cards," the memo said.

"The Board of Commissioners wishes to make clear that the use of the county credit cards are for eligible purposes only, while traveling on county business. Persons not officially on county business should not use the county credit cards for any travel expenses," the memo said.

"I hate that it has come to this," Mrs. Lazor said before handing in her card, noting that commissioners have had their own cards since before she took office in 1992. The county adopted a new travel policy in January, according to the memo.

Mrs. Lazor, who said she uses her card rarely, wants a stricter policy to govern how the cards are used, by commissioners on down.

Jeff Swartzbeck, county fiscal director, said the county has nine credit cards -- four are maintained by the Fiscal Office, three by county commissioners and one each by the Sheriff's Office and the office of Children and Youth Services.

Credit card statements go to the respective offices of the cardholders.

Among her recommendations, Mrs. Lazor said all credit card statements should go directly to the fiscal office. She also said all county credit cards should be held in separate folders or in a "lock box" in the fiscal office. All cards would need to be signed out before county business trips and then returned immediately following them, with credit-card receipts from the trip.

Swartzbeck said some of the "mistakes and oversights" mentioned in the memo include employees' failure to hand in receipts after they have used a county credit card. Two receipts are needed -- one for a total bill and a detailed one that itemizes specific purchases, such as dinner orders.

The current policy is generic, said county Personnel Director Bill Boyle. For instance, he said, the policy does not specifically address commissioners.

If commissioners use their cards on a business trip, Mrs. Lazor said, they wait for the statement to arrive -- statements come only when the cards are used; there are no monthly charges for the cards -- and then staple the receipts to the statement and forward them to the fiscal office.

Office employees review the paperwork before forwarding it to the county controller's office for payment.

Each department has a travel budget, from which the credit cards are paid; each commissioner is allotted $3,500 for travel expenses this year, $500 more than last year.

County Controller Dennis Songer was out of the area Wednesday, but an office assistant noted that commissioners, for instance, rarely use their cards or at least rarely make requests for repayments or reimbursements.

Commissioner Brian Shipley said he has not improperly used his credit card and supports Mrs. Lazor's policy recommendations. "I think the county needs to take a close look at the credit card policy," he said.

Shipley, a first-term Republican, said there is "a need to review what our practice has been and to see how we can better strengthen" the policy. Shipley talked about "raising accountability," saying, "We have to be careful with our county tax dollars."