Former SGF employee charged with stealing from city
A former Springfield water treatment plant manager has been charged with felony stealing for his alleged role in using city money for personal purchases.
The criminal charges, filed Wednesday in Greene County Circuit Court, describe years of herbicide purchases made by the plant manager, Kelly Green, to use on his personal farm in Bolivar. Officials estimate he purchased more than $17,000 worth of herbicides.
"The City of Springfield regrets that the actions of a former Southwest Treatment Plant employee have led to criminal charges," city staffers said in a news release. "Managers acted immediately and thoroughly when concerns were brought forward and we are confident that the appropriate measures have been taken to prevent future potential misuse of City resources.
"The City thoroughly reviewed operations at the Southwest Treatment Plant after quickly responding to concerns brought forward by employees in August 2014. City officials are confident that appropriate measures have been taken to prevent future potential misuse of City resources."
According to a probable cause statement used to charge Green, police were involved beginning in October 2014. It says a detective met with employee Errin Kemper regarding a "possible long term theft situation at the Southwest Water Treatment Plant."
Police say Kemper had discovered records going back two or three years "documenting employees that had purchased herbicides to control broadleaf plants in grass stands."
The purchases were billed to the city using a credit card called a "P card."
"Kemper stated the herbicides that were purchased were never authorized by the city and that there was no reason that employees of the power plant would need to purchase such herbicides," the statement says.
Kemper told police he had received information that Green was using the herbicides on his farm. The documents say Kemper learned that from Philip Costa, a city employee who reported to Green.
Green resigned on Oct. 1, 2014, shortly before the police began their investigation. Two days later, one of Green's subordinates, Scott Foley, also resigned.
The charging documents show Foley purchased herbicides at Green's request. It says Green later told Foley he had requested the herbicides for his personal farm. The document says police asked how Foley responded.
"That's on you," he said. "Wow. It's not like he ... he's not poor ... ya know. Internally I'm shocked a little bit."
He also told police he had to "worry about (his) job."
"We are friends, all that stuff is intertwined," Foley said to police, adding that Green "could be forceful. It was always his way."
Foley said he was worried Green would "make (his) life hard" if he refused to cooperate.
Over the course of about a week, police put together a probable cause statement. It's not clear if it was sent to prosecutors at that time, but a more thorough probable cause statement was submitted Wednesday.
Green is charged with class C felony stealing. A criminal summons has been issued for him to appear before a judge. A class C felony carries a maximum penalty of up to seven years in prison.
News-Leader reporter Amos Bridges followed the case for several months, seeking answers from city officials about whether money was missing from the treatment plant.
During the course of that investigation, the city released the results of an audit that outlined several procedures that should be tightened to avoid potential misuse of funds.
That audit had been conducted when city officials first learned of the possible misuse of funds. City spokeswoman Cora Scott said the recommended procedural changes have already been put in place.