State auditor flags former Dunklin County public administrator

KENNETT, Mo. — Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway will deliver a presentation on the results of an audit that led to the resignation of former Dunklin County public administrator Shawnee Trowbridge.

The presentation is set for 11:30 a.m. March 23 at the Kennett OAKS Nutrition Center. The meeting is open to the public.

“My team identified a series of concerning financial transactions during our audit of Dunklin County, so we expanded our review and worked with law enforcement to ensure steps would be taken to protect vulnerable members of the community,” Galloway said in a news release.

“I appreciate Attorney General Chris Koster and his team working quickly to resolve this issue. We remain committed to shining a light on any situation where public officials are taking advantage of their positions for personal gain,” she said.

Auditors discovered the issues during the course of a regularly scheduled county audit.

Upon the investigation and involvement of Koster, Trowbridge resigned March 1 and agreed to repay $800 of misspent funds.

According to Koster’s office, as a result of the agreement with Trowbridge, prosecution will be deferred at this time.

“Public administrators must be trusted to dutifully protect the money of people who are not capable of handling it themselves,” Koster said in a separate news release. “Ms. Trowbridge has resigned from office and therefore no longer has control of any individual’s funds. I appreciate Auditor Galloway bringing this situation to my office after discovering it.”

Deputy public administrator Cheryl Byrd is running the office until the governor appoints a successor. The office is up for election this year. So far, only Matt Jackson of Kennett has filed. The filing deadline is March 29.

Pertinent address:

Kennett, Mo.