Little revealed after collector's resignation

Pam J. Oestreich
Pam J. Oestreich

Callaway County Collector Pam Oestreich's resignation Thursday has left county authorities with many questions.

Central Bank officials met with Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson on March 15 to discuss suspicious activity of a Callaway County checking account managed by the county collector, the Fulton Sun reported Friday. Following that meeting, the prosecuting attorney informed Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism of the report, then Chism and Wilson contacted the FBI.

Soon afterward, Oestreich met with lead County Commissioner Gary Jungermann and Chism. She resigned, and the collector's office was immediately closed.

"There was not much said," Jungermann said Friday.

According to Jungermann and Eastern District Commissioner Randy Kleindienst, the commissioner's office hasn't been informed of the nature of the suspicious activity. "Suspicious" might indicate anything from unusual transactions to missing money to something else. That information has not been released to commissioners, Kleindienst said.

Oestreich's letter of resignation did not explain why she was resigning, Jungermann said.

"There were some tears, but tears for what, I don't know," he added.

Oestreich did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

"The FBI cannot comment on ongoing investigative activity," a spokesperson for the Kansas City FBI office said.

Wilson and Chism also declined to give further details about the "suspicious activity."

"Because I've referred the matter to the FBI, I am not at liberty to discuss details of the bank's concerns," Wilson said Friday. "Clearly, it was enough for me to immediately contact Sheriff Chism and together we decided to contact the FBI."

He said federal authorities have received his report and are "working diligently on that."

Jungermann delivered Oestreich's resignation to the office of Gov. Eric Greitens, as required by statute. Greitens' responsibility is to appoint a person to fill the collector's role until the next election.

This could take up to eight weeks, Jungermann said.

County clerk Denise Hubbard has collected tax records and will submit them to an outside auditor. Callaway County is also audited annually by an outside firm, Jungermann said. He added he's glad outside authorities are investigating the matter.

"They need to do their job of finding out what happened without any interference from us," he said.

County officials are unsure when the collector's office will reopen. In the meantime, Audrain County and Cole County have partnered with Callaway County to allow residents to pay personal property taxes.

Kleindienst said Callaway County residents may bring a cashier check or money order to the county courthouse in those two counties. In return, they'll be given a receipt - essential for renewing a vehicle registration, for example.

Oestreich was initially elected to the position in 1999 and was serving her fourth elected term.