Fire District’s financial director resigns

The financial director of the Boone County Fire Protection District resigned Monday after being placed on paid leave June 28.

The Fire District’s board accepted the resignation of Andrea Meinhart in a closed meeting. Meinhart had been placed on leave after the board was informed of “bookkeeping mistakes” that were found during the 2005 audit.

Meinhart had worked for the district for 18 months. She could not be reached for comment.

Chief Steve Paulsell said Meinhart resigned over the phone Monday afternoon and then in a formal letter. He refused to discuss what prompted her resignation.

Board member David Griggs said that the reason for Meinhart’s resignation was unknown and that he could not speculate as to the reason.

In a grievance e-mailed anonymously to the Missourian on Saturday, Meinhart alleged that Assistant Chief Sharon Curry had bullied and intimidated her.

Griggs said at a future meeting the board would discuss Meinhart’s grievance, which was sent to him and fellow board members Shelly Dometrorch and John Gordon. The date for the meeting had not yet been set.

Division Chief Gale Blomenkamp said Meinhart reported directly to Curry.

Following the initial report of the bookkeeping problems, Griggs said the auditor “is going to go back and look at every check, credit card bill and invoice to ensure there is no missing money or financial improprieties, and to make sure they are all correctly posted.”

Included in the inquiries are issues that the auditor found and comments that were made to the board by Meinhart, Griggs said.

Since June 28, Meinhart’s position has been held by Doug Harris, a retired accountant who formerly held the position of finance director.

Dometrorch said in an earlier interview that the board decided to place Meinhart on leave after the district’s accountants, Columbia’s Marberry, Miller and Bales, found irregularities in the district’s financial records. Dometrorch said the board was reassured that “there is no reason to believe that money is missing.”