NOW. NEW TONIGHT, AN INVESTIGATION INTO A FORMER DIRECTOR OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY IS NOW BEING TURNED OVER TO THE DALLAS COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. KCCI OPHELIA JACOBSON HAS THE FINDINGS OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION BY THE STATE AUDITOR, OPHELIA STACY, AND BEN. THE REPORT CENTERS AROUND THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE DEXTER PUBLIC LIBRARY, MARY MCCULLOUGH. THE REPORT SAYS SHE WROTE $4,000 IN CHECKS TO HERSELF, DID NOT DEPOSIT MONEY MEANT FOR THE CITY, AND TOOK RECORDS THAT BELONGED TO THE LIBRARY. THE REPORT SHOWS MARY MCCULLOUGH WAS HIRED AS THE DIRECTOR IN 2008, AND RESIGNED IN 2022. WHEN A RESIDENT WHO WAS CRITICAL OF HER WORK WAS APPOINTED TO THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES. FROM 2015 TO 2022, THE STATE FOUND NEARLY $14,000 THAT WAS NOT DEPOSITED INTO THE CORRECT FUNDS. STATE AUDITOR ROB SAND SAYS SOMEONE RAISED THE FLAG ON MCCULLOUGH, AND THAT’S WHEN HIS OFFICE WENT IN TO INVESTIGATE. PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE NOT OUR MOST COMMON ENTITY. THERE’S TYPICALLY NOT A LOT OF MONEY FLOWING THROUGH THEM. UH, BUT, LOOK, IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER FOR, UM, WHAT IT IS WE’RE ASKED TO LOOK INTO. IF WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO LOOK INTO IT, AND WE THINK THAT THERE’S A GOOD CONCERN, THEN WE’RE GOING TO WANT TO DO OUR JOB. AND KCCI REACHED OUT TO CITY LEADERS IN DEXTER, THE MAYOR SAID SINCE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF LITIGATION, THE CITY HAD NO FURTHER COMMENT. THE MAYOR DID ADD THE CITY COUNCIL PERSONS AND I WILL FOLLOW THIS MATTER THROUGH TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY OF DEXTER TAXPAYERS MONEY IS BEING USED AND ACCOUNTED FOR PROPERLY. AS OF THIS EVENING, MCCULLOUGH IS NOT FACING ANY CHARGES RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATION, AND MCCULLOUGH IS ALSO LISTED ON ON THE STAFF OF THE STEWART LIBRARY. WE’VE REACHED OUT TO THEM, AND THE DALLAS COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK. BEN AN
Advertisem*nt
Former central Iowa library director wrote checks to herself and created an unauthorized community nonprofit, audit finds
The former director of the Dexter Public Library wrote $4,000 in checks to herself, established a community nonprofit that took in $10,000 in donations, and also was seen taking library documents and putting them into her own vehicle, according to a state auditor's report out Thursday.There were $13,589 undeposited collections found in the special investigation related to Mary McColloch. This included $5,801.80 of checks issued to the library that were improperly deposited into the Dexter Community Foundation's bank account; $75 of checks for the library not properly deposited into the city's bank account; $5,212.70 of library collection for donations and fundraisers that were not properly deposited into the city's bank account; and $2,500 of Bayer Ag grant proceeds for the library that were deposited into the foundation's bank account, the audit detailed.McColloch was hired as the Dexter library director in 2008. The town has more than 600 residents.State Auditor Rob Sand said libraries are not typically audited by his office unless there is a request. The audit covered July 1, 2015, through March 1, 2022.McColloch resigned from her position in 2022 when a resident critical of her work was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees, the report said.The auditor then filed the report with the Dallas County Sheriff's Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Dallas County Attorney's Office and the Attorney General's Office. As of Thursday afternoon, there were no charges filed, according to a search of Iowa Courts Online.KCCI reached out to the Dexter mayor, the Dallas County attorney and the Stuart library, where a Mary McColloch is listed as being on staff.On Thursday evening, Dexter Mayor Dennis Clemetson emailed a statement to KCCI:"The city of Dexter became aware that there may have been some financial irregularities concerning funds of the Dexter public library. The city engaged the state auditor of Iowa to perform a limited audit of the library finances. The audit is available for public inspection and has been turned over to the Dallas County Attorney's office for review. As there is a possibility of litigation related to this audit findings the City will have no further comments at this time. However, myself and the all the city council persons will follow this matter through to ensure that the City of Dexter taxpayers money is being used and accounted for properly. I would like to thank the state auditor and all the employees for all their dedication to the audit process."» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI
DEXTER, Iowa —
The former director of the Dexter Public Library wrote $4,000 in checks to herself, established a community nonprofit that took in $10,000 in donations, and also was seen taking library documents and putting them into her own vehicle, according to a state auditor's report out Thursday.
There were $13,589 undeposited collections found in the special investigation related to Mary McColloch. This included $5,801.80 of checks issued to the library that were improperly deposited into the Dexter Community Foundation's bank account; $75 of checks for the library not properly deposited into the city's bank account; $5,212.70 of library collection for donations and fundraisers that were not properly deposited into the city's bank account; and $2,500 of Bayer Ag grant proceeds for the library that were deposited into the foundation's bank account, the audit detailed.
Advertisem*nt
McColloch was hired as the Dexter library director in 2008. The town has more than 600 residents.
State Auditor Rob Sand said libraries are not typically audited by his office unless there is a request. The audit covered July 1, 2015, through March 1, 2022.
McColloch resigned from her position in 2022 when a resident critical of her work was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees, the report said.
The auditor then filed the report with the Dallas County Sheriff's Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Dallas County Attorney's Office and the Attorney General's Office. As of Thursday afternoon, there were no charges filed, according to a search of Iowa Courts Online.
KCCI reached out to the Dexter mayor, the Dallas County attorney and the Stuart library, where a Mary McColloch is listed as being on staff.
On Thursday evening, Dexter Mayor Dennis Clemetson emailed a statement to KCCI:
"The city of Dexter became aware that there may have been some financial irregularities concerning funds of the Dexter public library. The city engaged the state auditor of Iowa to perform a limited audit of the library finances. The audit is available for public inspection and has been turned over to the Dallas County Attorney's office for review. As there is a possibility of litigation related to this audit findings the City will have no further comments at this time. However, myself and the all the city council persons will follow this matter through to ensure that the City of Dexter taxpayers money is being used and accounted for properly. I would like to thank the state auditor and all the employees for all their dedication to the audit process."
» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
Get the latest headlines from KCCI
