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Mayor resigns as auditor investigates Leadington finances

Monday night, 5 On Your Side first reported about records obtained by concerned citizens that they said show Mayor Dustin Winick improperly spent city money.

LEADINGTON, Mo. — In the city of Leadington, there is no city clerk, no court clerk, no police chief and now no mayor. All have resigned recently and it's to the point that city hall has to be closed. 

Monday night, 5 On Your Side first reported about records obtained by concerned citizens that they said show Mayor Dustin Winick improperly spent city money. 

RELATED: More than half of Leadington’s workforce has resigned, including mayor

At the same time, one alderman said Leadington is in debt $100,000.

"When I don't have money, I don't buy it," said Dale Allen Wood, who has lived in Leadington for several years.

On Tuesday, Mayor Winick resigned.

"Good! Goodbye," said Wood when told about the news.

A city alderman said police stopped him from taking paperwork out of the building earlier in the day.

Now, the state auditor has started investigating a complaint about improper spending at the city.

"It's a loss of faith to everybody," said Wood.

A spokeswoman for the auditor said this is a preliminary investigation, not a complete audit. She could not confirm who the complaint is about. She said an investigation is underway to see if the claim is credible.

Then, the auditor's office will decide the next steps. It could be closing the case, recommending it to law enforcement, working with the person the complaint is about to resolve it, or request a full audit.

Because Leadington is a municipality, the spokeswoman said the office does not have the authority to start a full-scale audit. That would have to come from a citizen's petition or by the city itself.

Meanwhile, the municipal building has been closed for days. Unless citizens need the police there's no one to answer the phone.

That means no way to ask your city government for help, to pay a ticket or to buy a permit for a cemetery plot in town.

"It's ridiculous what's happening in my town," said Jackie Dell Johnston.

There's already no one in city maintenance after the city let Johnston go earlier this year.

Homeowners like Dale Allen Wood said cuts have already happened for years, such as garbage pickup.

"They cut that off three or four years ago. because of funding problems," he said.

People in Leadington who pay their taxes just want answers about where their money is going and when the city will be back open.

There is going to be an emergency meeting  Wednesday night at 7 at the municipal building to talk about the latest developments.

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