FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WAYNESVILLE, Mo., Aug. 6, 2026. — The City of Waynesville today announced that an independent forensic review of revenues from the annual Hogs & Frogs Festival is complete and its findings have been formally referred to law enforcement for further action. Alongside this announcement, the  City is publishing the financial controls for all city-run events. These measures will be listed below in this article.

This matter involved the City’s former City Clerk, who resigned her position effective October 23, 2025, and has not been employed by the City since that date. Due to the active criminal investigation, the City cannot comment on the circumstances surrounding her departure or any related details at this time.

On November 25, 2025, the City retained ARA Fraud & Forensic Services, an independent accounting firm, to examine concerns regarding the handling of certain festival revenues. The City deliberately chose an outside firm rather than conducting an internal review. All findings and supporting documentation have been provided to law enforcement.

Under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 4-3.6, parties involved in a criminal investigation are restricted from making public statements that could materially prejudice the proceedings. The City is adhering to this legal standard and will not release specific findings, financial figures, or investigative details while the case remains pending. Any decision regarding charges rests solely with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney. To date, no individual has been charged or found responsible, and the presumption of innocence applies fully. When legally permitted, the City will release additional information promptly, completely, and without waiting for outside inquiries. We understand the community’s desire for transparency and are committed to keeping residents informed as appropriate.

Financial Controls in Place and Continuing Forward

The City of Waynesville has financial controls and oversight procedures in place to safeguard public funds and ensure that City revenues are properly documented, deposited, and reconciled. These existing controls were an important part of identifying the financial discrepancy that prompted the initial concerns and subsequent review.

Moving forward, the City will continue these financial controls and will maintain a commitment to strengthening financial oversight where appropriate. These controls include:

• Sponsorship commitments are documented and tracked

  at the time they are made and are verified against actual payments received by the City.

• Sponsors receive written documentation of their payments

  to provide confirmation that funds were received and properly deposited into official City accounts.

• Event payments are directed exclusively to official City accounts

  through established and published payment instructions, rather than personal or unauthorized channels.

• Event revenue is reconciled and independently reviewed

  by a second staff member who is separate from the individual or department responsible for collecting the funds.

• Event financial activity receives ongoing oversight

  from personnel outside the department managing the event, providing an additional layer of accountability and review.

These controls are designed to ensure that the City's financial integrity does not depend on any single individual and that discrepancies can be identified through established review and reconciliation processes.

The City will continue these safeguards as part of its ongoing commitment to responsible stewardship of public funds, transparency, and accountability. Where appropriate, the City will also evaluate whether additional controls or procedural improvements are needed to further strengthen its financial practices.

Mayor’s Statement

“I want to share what I can, and I’m holding back what I cannot,” said Mayor Sean Wilson. “Not because we’re hiding anything, but because Missouri law restricts us from commenting on active investigations. Releasing details now could compromise the very process meant to uncover the truth and deny someone their right to a fair proceeding. What I can share is exactly what we’ve done: we did not investigate ourselves. We hired an independent firm, and once their work was complete, we turned everything over to law enforcement. I’m also making our proposed financial controls public now, not after they’re adopted, because your input matters. When I’m able to say more about the investigation, I will, and you won’t have to ask for it. And I want to be clear: until proven otherwise, everyone is presumed innocent.”

Media Contact:

City Clerk’s Office | City of Waynesville

The City of Waynesville serves residents in Pulaski County, Missouri. For financial reports, meeting agendas, and public records requests, visit WaynesvilleMO.org