JEFFERSON CITY — A whistleblower complaint alleging fiscal mismanagement by the former Ste. Genevieve County Public Administrator Robin Naeger has led to an audit report released this week by State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick that gives the office a rating of “poor.”
The following specific findings were reported in the audit. Each is followed by the response from former public administrator Robin Naeger.
Finding: The former Public Administrator did not file annual settlements timely.
The former Public Administrator provided the following response:
Nearly every time a settlement was late, it was because I was waiting for information/documentation from a facility or caseworker. It was COVID. For most of the first year, I was not allowed in many facilities due to their right to restrict access when they had outbreaks. They were nearly all short-staffed and unable to respond to my requests for documentation and receipt slips in a timely manner. No one is at fault here, that was life with the pandemic. Chaos. Nothing working as it should. There were things beyond my control, which did not affect my ability or dedication. Several settlements came due at the same time and were in various states of readiness when I was shoved out the door. They would have been on time and correct or I would have had time to make them so, had I been allowed the two weeks I offered in my resignation.
Finding: The former Public Administrator did not retain adequate supporting documentation for disbursements, totaling $2,724, from 7 of 29 ward bank accounts reviewed.
The former Public Administrator provided the following response:
When I was in office I was able to provide any documentation requested and did. I cannot account for items missing or discovered to be in error after my resignation. Had any errors or omissions been brought to my attention while I had the power and access to address them, I could have.
Finding: The former Public Administrator did not prepare or maintain accurate bank reconciliations for ward accounts. During a recorded interview, the former Public Administrator indicated she did not prepare bank reconciliations timely “because there were so many other demands of the job, so sometimes I was doing it 2 or 3 months after the fact.”
The former Public Administrator provided the following response:
The accounting software I purchased needed an accurate beginning balance to set up each ward’s account. To get that took time and research in some accounts where there were errors going years back. Because this job was 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for 4 years and for most of it I had only me to do it, streamlining the work was necessary. The paper check registers I felt were an outdated method which the EMS system could vastly improve upon for our purposes. I used them in tandem in the interim and did have some errors of my own to account for, but I could always account and answer for them when they arose in the process. In any given moment I had to choose which fire to put out. I could easily log on and see a balance and know what was about to come or go from an account, so filling out a paper register was often the smaller fire in the big scheme of things. Many of the wards never have more than the few regular deposits and charges. It was the few who had constant demands beginning with the first stimulus drop, which caused chaos in the smooth workings of my office accounting.
Finding: Controls over the Public Administrator’s computers are not sufficient. As a result, the Public Administrator’s computers and data are not adequately protected and are susceptible to unauthorized access or loss.
The former Public Administrator provided the following response:
My office was always locked when I was even down the hall. My passwords were securely stowed away. I trusted only my assistants with access to the things they were assigned to manage and am aware of no breach. From the first week, I made repeated requests from the powers that be for assurances my data was securely and separately stored from the other offices, but never felt that was the case. The information was mine to protect and I did so.
The current public administrator Amanda Kuehn stated that she is in agreement with most of the audit’s findings and will make necessary changes.
The complete audit report is available here: