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Resident urges Neosho County to adopt automatic turnover and audit policies after treasurer's resignation
Summary
During public comment, Tom Gieffer urged the commission to establish written procedures requiring immediate bank signature updates and department-level audits when elected or appointed department heads leave office.
At the Jan. 13 Neosho County Commission meeting, resident Tom Gieffer used the public-comment period to call for formal county policies governing turnover of department heads, particularly in offices that control county funds.
Gieffer raised concerns stemming from a recent resignation in the treasurer’s office, saying the county appeared to scramble to update signature cards and bank authorizations. He urged the commission to establish a standing policy that would require an automatic handoff to a deputy, immediate bank signatory updates and, in some cases, a forensic or full audit when financial stewards depart.
Commissioners and staff responded that they had already begun contacting auditing firms but that specialized governmental auditors are in high demand and scheduling can be delayed. A county official told the commission that staff had contacted at least three auditing firms and that getting a firm scheduled often takes time; commissioners discussed issuing a request-for-bids (RFB) so the county has a prepared list of auditors to call when turnover occurs.
Gieffer said a prompt audit would clear questions and rumors in the community and protect both the public interest and the reputations of individuals potentially affected. Commissioners said they agreed the county should have clearer, written turnover procedures and discussed preparing a policy and, separately, issuing a request for proposals or bids for auditing firms to reduce response time when audits are necessary.
No formal motion to adopt a specific turnover or mandatory audit policy was taken at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to draft a policy and to prepare procurement steps so audits can be scheduled more quickly in the future.
Background and context Gieffer cited concerns about bank reconciliations and nonstandard practices in the treasurer’s office and asked that the county require a deputy treasurer to be automatically authorized with banks upon a treasurer’s departure. He also recommended that a department-level audit become routine when a department head leaves, to ensure the incoming manager inherits clean books.
What’s next Commissioners asked staff to draft a policy proposal and to prepare a request-for-bid or request-for-proposal template to use when seeking governmental auditors. Staff said they would continue outreach to auditing firms and would report back with possible contract language and procurement timelines at a future meeting.
