PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. (Dec. 11, 2008) — Presiding Commissioner Bill Ransdall declined a request by County Treasurer Barbara Thomas that he direct staff members in the county clerk’s office to tell her when checks are ready to sign.

Thomas told Ransdall during Thursday’s county commission meeting that staff members in County Clerk Diana Linnenbringer’s office told her the county commissioners were unhappy waiting to sign county checks.

“It’s ridiculous for me to have to go back and forth to write checks,” Thomas said. “It’s not in the best interest of the county.”

Relations between Linnenbringer and Thomas have been frosty. Linnenbringer didn’t address Thomas’ concerns during the meeting and declined comment after the meeting adjourned; Thomas’ opponent in the 2006 general election, Kim Skaggs-Henson, accused Thomas of failing to be in her office at the courthouse to perform her duties. Thomas responded that efficient handling of county funds requires her to be out of the office delivering checks to banks and performing other functions as the county’s treasurer.

Ransdall told Thomas and Linnenbringer that he didn’t have the authority to tell employees in the clerk’s office what to do.

“I’m not passing the buck, Diana — she is your employee,” Ransdall said.

County Commissioner Dennis Thornsberry was blunter in his opinion of Thomas’ request.

“Why didn’t you tell her to just sign the checks instead of just flapping her god d--- jaws?” Thornsberry said “She’s ridiculous.”

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