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Neosho County commissioners remove outgoing clerk from accounts, appoint deputy clerks as interim signatories
Summary
After days of uncertainty over bank access and payroll signatures, the Neosho County Commission voted to remove outgoing County Clerk Heather Ellsworth from county bank accounts, add two deputy clerks to signature cards and authorize temporary payroll signatories while new cards are issued.
Neosho County commissioners voted on Jan. 13 to remove outgoing County Clerk Heather Ellsworth from all county checking accounts and online access and to add two deputy clerks as interim signatories while signature cards are updated.
The action came amid ongoing transitions in county elected offices and a scramble to ensure payroll and accounts-payable functions continued without interruption. Commissioners also authorized a temporary payroll-signing arrangement and completed a short reorganization, naming Commissioner Nick Gilmore as chairman and appointing a vice chair.
Commissioners said the immediate step — removing Ellsworth from accounts tied to the county's Employer Identification Number (EIN) — was necessary to limit access while new signature cards were prepared. The commission also voted to add Kat (deputy clerk) and Chastity (deputy clerk) to bank signature cards “for all EIN numbers pertaining to the county” as interim measures so the clerk's office and the county could continue financial operations.
To prevent a payroll lapse this pay period, the commission authorized County staff member Paul to sign paychecks and other financial documents for this single pay cycle while institutions accept new or updated signature arrangements. Commissioners said those temporary arrangements would remain in place only until banks processed the new cards.
The reorganization votes included naming Commissioner Nick Gilmore commission chair for 2025 and Convention/Commissioner Clawson (listed in minutes as the motioned vice chair) as vice chair. The panel also voted to hold weekly meetings for the next 30 days to manage interim administrative issues related to the change in elected officials.
What the commission approved - Removal of outgoing County Clerk Heather Ellsworth from county bank accounts tied to county EINs (motion passed). - Interim addition of two deputy clerks (Kat and Chastity) to bank signature cards for county accounts (motion passed). - Authorization for staff member Paul to sign payroll and related financial documents for the current pay period pending updated signature cards (motion passed). - Reorganization: appointment of Commissioner Nick Gilmore as 2025 chair and appointment of a vice chair; weekly meetings for 30 days beginning Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. (motions passed).
Commissioners and staff said they would file new signature cards with each bank as soon as possible and that deputies added to the cards would be covered by the county’s blanket bond while serving in the interim roles. The commission directed staff to coordinate with banks and with the county’s payroll processor so scheduled pay runs would go out on time.
The commission did not take action to permanently change clerk or treasurer offices, which are elected positions. Those longer-term decisions will be handled according to state law and future commission decisions.
The votes and the updated signature cards aim to restore routine financial operations with minimal interruption while elected-offices turnover and while the commission discusses longer-term policy options.
