Neosho County commissioners add new treasurer and deputy to county accounts, approve $1,000 credit card

Neosho County commissioners voted Monday to add newly seated Treasurer Gabrielle “Gabby” Sands and Deputy Treasurer Keely Dodge to all county bank accounts tied to the county’s Employer Identification Number and to grant them online access, and to remove the former treasurer and deputy from those accounts.

The move followed a presentation by Sands, who asked the commission to remove the prior treasurer and deputy from account access, to grant her and Dodge viewing and transactional access as appropriate, and to confirm how the county will handle the treasurer’s bond and a county credit card. Commissioner Westhoff moved the change; the motion received a second and passed with all commissioners voting in favor.

Sands told the commission she intends to limit early access to viewing-only for some accounts while arranging transactional access for her deputy. She said that some banks have not yet completed paperwork and that she had received letters from financial institutions that will permit better viewing access for reconciliation. “I want no transactional” access for some roles until appropriate, she said during the meeting.

The commission also approved a $1,000-limit county credit card for Sands, to be used primarily for training, travel and supply purchases such as from Amazon. The motion to issue the card passed after a brief discussion on allowable charges and policy limits. Commissioners emphasized the county’s credit-card policy, which disallows alcohol and outlines allowable meal, travel and tip reimbursements.

The group discussed the required fidelity bond for the treasurer, noting past coverage and differing bond amounts. Commissioners asked Sands to solicit quotes (several were suggested) and report back; commissioners suggested the county might cover a portion of a bond for her first year in office. No specific bond amount was adopted at the meeting.

Sands asked to close the treasurer’s office the next day so staff could finish end-of-year balancing; the commission approved the closing for the treasurer’s office for that purpose. Commissioners and Sands discussed timelines for bank signature changes and the practical need to give Sands access before removing prior signers so operations could continue without interruption.

No roll-call vote totals were recorded in the minutes for the account-access or credit-card motions; minutes record the actions as, respectively, “motion passes” and “motion passes.”

The commission repeatedly emphasized the need for prompt completion of bank paperwork, coordination with county counsel and the county clerk, and clear record-keeping during the transition.