ROANOKE, Va. (WSLS10) After footing the bill for a funeral luncheon for former Rocky Mount Police Chief David Cundiff, town leaders are left wondering how they spent so much.
The bill for the luncheon tops nearly $11,000.
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Rocky Mount council members say they were contacted by the town manger to give clearance to pay for the luncheon that was hosted in the town.
They say they were rushing to plan the luncheon in less than a week.
Originally 4 organizations were supposed to pay for the luncheon but two backed out, leaving the town and Franklin County to front the bill.
Town leaders say they didn't know how much it was going to cost.
"Mr. Cundiff was a very prominent citizen of Franklin County he was a fantastic chief of police," Ann Love, Rocky Mount Councilwoman said.
Chief Cundiff gave more than 30-years of service to the citizens of rocky mount and Franklin County in law enforcement and as a member of the board of supervisors.
Which is why Rocky Mount town council members like Ann Love along with Franklin County officials decided to give the Cundiff family a proper luncheon after his funeral.
"That was the right thing to do, the family deserved to be comforted to have this done for them," Love said.
Town leaders say the luncheon was held at the Rocky Mount fire station and was catered for 500 people which included state officials and law enforcement along with Cundiff's family.
We spoke to council member Jon Snead who agrees with love that the money was properly spent, but shocked the town paid that much.
"With the four day turn around the county and town had to set this up along with the other groups that promised I think they did what they thought was the right thing at the time," Love said.
We spoke to Franklin County Administrator Rick Huff and he says he wasn't aware of the cost.
The county reimbursed the town half of the $11,000 for the luncheon.
Town leaders say they plan to have more oversight if another situation happens like this in the future.