Idaho City clerk resigns amid investigation into misuse of funds

A longtime Idaho City employee was suspended, then resigned her position as city clerk amid an investigation of misappropriation of public funds, according to a city official and Idaho State Police.

Tammy Ellsworth was hired in July of 2002 and her salary was $16 an hour, Mayor Phillip Canody said. Ellsworth resigned last week.

Canody said Deputy Clerk Nancy Ling will be handling the clerk’s duties until the position is filled.

“I can’t give you a firm date for permanently filling the position, but I hope to do so soon,” Canody said.

Idaho State Police spokeswoman Teresa Baker said she couldn’t provide any details of the ongoing investigation.

Two cases of missing money from the Boise County Clerk’s Office in Idaho City came to light last year.

In October, former County Clerk’s Office employee Rana Klingner was charged with two felony counts of grand theft. Klingner was accused of wrongfully taking cash, checks and/or money orders in the amount of $46,922.33 over a two-year period. A five-day jury trial is set to begin June 16, according to online court records.

About a month later, $1,700 in cash went missing as it was being transferrred from the county clerk’s office to the treasurer’s office, which are in the same building. Two employees — one in the clerk’s office, the other in the treasurer’s office — were later fired.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Idaho City clerk resigns amid investigation into misuse of funds."