Neosho County moves to remove former clerk from accounts, add interim deputies to signature cards after turnover concerns

Neosho County commissioners voted Jan. 13 to remove the previous county clerk, Heather Ellsworth, from county bank accounts and online access and to add two interim deputies to the county's signature cards after public concern about procedures following recent department turnovers.

The actions followed public comment from Tom Gieffer, a Neosho County resident, who urged the commission to adopt clear policies for handling signature cards and audits when an elected or department head leaves office. "Would it not make sense to have a full blown audit done of every department head when it turns over?" Gieffer asked during public comment. "So whoever the new incoming department head would be would have a clean set of books."

Commissioners responded with immediate procedural changes. The commission approved a motion to remove Heather Ellsworth from all county checking accounts and online access tied to the county Employer Identification Number, and approved a separate motion appointing "Kat" and Chastity to be added to signature cards for all county EIN numbers on an interim basis so county business could proceed. Commissioners also authorized the county administrator/paying official to accept temporary signatures for payroll and other financial documents while new signature cards are processed.

The moves were framed by commissioners as temporary, administrative fixes to ensure continuity of payments and payroll while the commission finalizes longer-term policy changes. Commissioners also discussed the difficulty of obtaining outside governmental auditors on short notice and the need to prepare request-for-bid documents so audits can be scheduled promptly when turnovers occur.

No formal timetable for a countywide policy change was adopted at the meeting; commissioners said staff would draft a recommended policy and present it at an upcoming meeting. The commission also discussed the practical limits of arranging audits quickly, noting government audit firms often book months in advance and that a standing request-for-bid system could shorten response time when turnovers occur.

The commission held multiple executive sessions during the meeting related to litigation and security; after the final executive session commissioners reported no action was taken during the closed sessions. The public-record motions to change bank signatories and to authorize interim signing authority were voted on in open session and passed.

Clarifying details included that payroll clearing cannot be completed without updated signature cards; commissioners temporarily authorized Paul (county official handling payroll) to sign paychecks for the current pay period until signature cards are updated. Commissioners also said their actions were limited to accounts and access tied to the county EIN and would be implemented immediately.

The commission scheduled weekly meetings for the next 30 days to help manage the transition and outstanding administrative tasks.