Gov. Eric Greitens has appointed Tim Wilkerson as the Callaway County collector.
The Fulton man hopes to be sworn in and reopen the office early next week, pending receiving his appointment papers.
Wilkerson is a lifelong Callaway County resident and served as the assistant vice president of Bank Star One, having started his banking career in 1978. He received his bachelor of arts degree from Culver-Stockton College.
“Probably, my banking career and what is required of bankers can help with a position of this magnitude, even though what I’ll be doing will be different,” Wilkerson said.
He said his former position required a lot of transparency and regular audits, just as the Callaway County Collector’s Office does.
Wilkerson said he will work to rebuild the reputation of the collector’s office after the unusual circumstances surrounding the previous collector’s resignation.
“If there’s any feeling of mistrust by the public in what has transpired, then it’s up to me to make sure that trust is restored,” he added. “We’re here to serve the public, and we need to make sure that not only are we transparent, we’re trustworthy.”
Former Callaway County Collector Pam J. Oestreich resigned suddenly March 12 after Central Bank officials met with Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson to discuss suspicious activity of a Callaway County checking account managed by the county collector. Following that meeting, the prosecuting attorney informed Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism of the report, then Chism and Wilson contacted the FBI.
Oestreich met with Jungermann and Chism and tendered her resignation immediately, which the Callaway County Commission accepted unanimously. The collector’s office was closed, and an audit by the Missouri state auditor’s office began March 26.
That audit has not yet concluded, but Wilkerson said that shouldn’t be a barrier to the collector’s office reopening.
Wilkerson said he never expected to become the county collector, but a member of the Republican Central Committee approached him about the position and he decided to apply. Soon, he was interviewing in Greitens’ office.
“They said they would try to fill it as quickly as possible, and they contacted me on Wednesday of this week,” he said.
Wilkerson is involved in the Fulton Kiwanis Club, Our House and the Fulton Housing Authority.