Shawnee County demands treasurer refund $36,000

? Shawnee County Treasurer Rita Cline has been told to refund $36,000 to the county’s motor vehicle fund within seven days.

County commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to authorize the county counselor’s office to recover money from Cline; her former office manager, Kate Carty; and attorney Don Hoffman.

Cline is being asked to see that the county get back $21,915 for buyout checks issued to Carty, $10,000 for a check to retain Hoffman and $4,000 for two checks issued to Carty as signing bonuses.

Cline had no comment on the commission’s actions. Cline and Hoffman met Wednesday with Shawnee County Dist. Atty. Robert Hecht as part of a formal inquisition. Cline is to meet with Hecht again Monday.

The motor vehicle fund is used to collect title, registration and license fees, and can be used only for those purposes, said County Counselor Rich Eckert.

Cline bought out Carty’s one-year contract after Carty served as office manager at the Shawnee County Motor Vehicle Office at White Lakes Mall for about a year and a half. Carty and Cline are now partners in a Missouri business.

Last week Cline asked Carty to return about $20,500 of the buyout.

Carty said Thursday she didn’t know if she would return the money.

“I’m still conversing with an attorney,” she said.