An audit of the Callaway County Collector's Office officially is underway, Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway said.
"I appreciate the quick action of Callaway County officials to request that my office begin this audit and get answers for taxpayers on the use of public resources within the county collector's office," Galloway said in a Tuesday news release. "We will conduct a thorough review, fully investigate any area of concern and work closely with law enforcement officials."
Representatives of Galloway's office met with Callaway County officials Monday to begin the process, Commissioner Gary Jungermann said. They have begun a preliminary investigation into the collector's office's records, he added.
"The information that we have at this point is that they would be here through Thursday of this week," Jungermann said Tuesday. "They've been working long days. I think they've been getting here at 6:30 a.m."
He said officials were told that following the preliminary investigation, the auditor's office would conduct a four- to six-week in-depth investigation beginning in April.
"We're hoping things go more smoothly than they've anticipated," Jungermann added.
He hopes to receive more information and a clearer picture of the timeline Thursday.
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 will remain closed until further notice.
Officials have not yet released information about the nature of the suspicious activity.
Missouri law requires an audit be performed when a vacancy occurs in a county collector office, but stipulates the audit begins after a new collector takes office. Gov. Eric Greitens is required to appoint a new collector, and to date no replacement auditor has been elected.
However, the Callaway County Commission requested an expedited audit from the state auditor's office March 19, Jungermann said last week.
In the meantime, Cole and Audrain county collectors will accept cashier's check or money order from Callaway County residents to pay Callaway County personal property taxes and get the receipt needed for things like renewing a vehicle registration.