Following charges filed against a second Castor Township elected official Monday morning, the Stoddard County Commission called a special meeting Tuesday evening to replace the two officials.
Castor Township President Randall McCollom submitted his letter of resignation Monday morning, the same day he was charged with stealing two dump trucks from the township (see accompanying story).
Last week, trustee/ex-officio treasurer Jacqulin Renea Bradshaw was charged with stealing nearly $17,000 in township funds while serving as treasurer. She was removed from her position Monday following a judge's order.
During the meeting, with about 25 people in attendance, Castor Township Vice President Steve Larsen recommended to the commission Virginia Gant to fill the role of treasurer/trustee.
The commission approved the appointment of Gant and asked the board for a recommendation to fill her position as the township's clerk during their regular meeting Monday, Aug. 13.
Gant and Larsen then accepted the resignation of McCollom and recommended Dale Moreland to fill the vacant position.
The commission accepted the appointment of Moreland as well. He will fill the remainder of McCollom's term to April 2019.
"Virginia Gant was instrumental in putting the financials together, going over those and been able to present those to our prosecuting attorney for the case regarding Ms. Bradshaw," Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis said. "Dale Moreland has been working in the past with the township and has a working knowledge of Castor Township. We are very comfortable with both members. I think both are very honest people of integrity and I think they will serve you well until you get to make a decision at the polls in April."
Once the appointments were made, Larsen asked if anyone in attendance had questions and apologized for the unfortunate event.
"We are going to continue on like business as normal," he said.
Following the incident, the Castor Township board has decided to change its policy of only requiring one signature on checks for payments to two signatures. Payroll checks already required two signatures.
The Castor Township board meets at 6 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the old courthouse in Bloomfield.