State auditor’s office to begin work at the courthouse

Nearly seven months after county officials requested an audit of the courthouse by the Missouri State Auditor’s Office, it appears work will be beginning soon.

The Clinton County Commissioners will be in session for a rare Wednesday meeting on June 16, during which representatives with the state auditor’s office will conduct their entrance meeting.

Presiding Commissioner Patrick Clark said Tuesday they are unaware of the full scope of the audit but expect to learn on Wednesday.

Counties in Missouri are audited on a four-year cycle, but this investigation will come outside of that rotation. Last October, in the midst of rising tensions between the commissioners (along with other offices) and County Clerk David Woody over his work, officeholders officially requested a state audit. The state accepted the request in November.

​Though neither First District Commissioner Jay Bettis nor Second District Commissioner Richard Riddell were in office at that time (those seats were held by Gary McCrea and Larry King, respectively), both said Tuesday that they support the audit and feel that it is warranted.