Former Neosho finance director - KOAM TV 7

Former Neosho finance director doesn't understand why she was fired

Neosho is looking for a new city finance director after the city manager fired the current office holder.

The city manager isn't commenting on the firing, calling it a closed personnel issue, but Jane Obert tells us she doesn't understand her termination and says she was not given progressive discipline as required under the city employee policy guide.

Obert was hired by City Manager Troy Royer after the state auditor found more than 30 deficiencies in Neosho's financial management, including the misuse of restricted funds and overspending on the civic center.

Obert says she helped turned things around.

"I had done a lot to improve the situation in the finance department at the city, and continuously throughout the whole year received nothing but praise and accolades for what I was doing," says Obert.  "The city manager said to me numerous times 'thank you, I can depend on you.'"

City officials say they are posting ads for the position and hope to hire someone to replace Obert in three to four weeks.