Fire chief billed taxpayers for personal expenses, Eldridge officials claim

by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch
April 17, 2026

The fire chief for the City of Eldridge, fired last year from his job as a city mechanic for the misuse of public funds, is not entitled to unemployment benefits, a judge has ruled.

State records indicate Keith Schneckloth worked for the City of Eldridge for 11 years, from December 2014 until his firing in December 2025, most recently as a city mechanic who reported to Public Works Director Tony Rupe.

In addition, Schneckloth served as the chief of the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department until his resignation from that post in December 2025. In recent weeks, Schneckloth rejoined the department as its chief, Mayor Scott Campbell said Friday.

The state records indicate that on Oct. 10, 2025, city officials received a report from a local body shop regarding the unsafe condition of the tires on a city police car, prompting city officials to review invoices from the auto-parts retailer NAPA.

In doing so, they found an $87 invoice for parts purchased for a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe — a vehicle the city did not own. The purchase was also tied to a Ford F350 that was driven daily by Schneckloth and belonged to the fire department, which is a separate entity from the city.

After finding that invoice, city officials reviewed all NAPA invoices filed during the previous year. During that review, they allegedly discovered personal purchases that were made with cash and by check and concluded Schneckloth had purchased personal items for himself and others totaling $1,042. Separately, the city found a February 2025 invoice for a specific tractor the city has never owned, with the purchase made and approved by Schneckloth.

As part of its review, the city also concluded that the comingling of his personal NAPA account and the city’s NAPA account had allowed Schneckloth to avoid being charged sales tax due to the city’s tax-exempt status.

On Nov. 17, 2025, city officials interviewed Schneckloth about the NAPA auto parts invoices. According to the city, Schneckloth explained that he had deliberately purchased the questioned parts but had mistakenly billed those purchases to the city by accidentally selecting the wrong payor from a menu of options. The city said it performed additional investigative work and concluded there was no validity to Schneckloth’s explanation.

By that time, the city had already discovered issues with the hours Schneckloth claimed to be working. Schneckloth’s timecard indicated he was working on Oct. 1, 2025, but the city claimed he was at his personal residence during the hours he claimed to be working.

On Dec. 10, 2025, the city fired Schneckloth from his job as a city mechanic. Around the same time, Schneckloth also resigned his position as the chief of the fire department, although he has since resumed that position.

After his firing, Schneckloth applied for unemployment benefits, which the city challenged, leading to a recent hearing before Administrative Law Judge Brooke Axiotis.

“Schneckloth utilized the city NAPA account to purchase items for the city, himself, the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department and farming — and had been doing so since he was hired as the city mechanic in 2014,” Axiotis stated in her ruling. “Purchasing items for a personal vehicle utilizing city funds is theft from the employer … This misconduct is substantial and disqualifying. Benefits are denied.”

Court records indicate no criminal charges were filed in the matter.

While Axiotis’ decision references billings that date back 11 years to Schneckloth’s hiring, Campbell said it was his understanding the city may have only looked back at a few years’ worth of billings.

Campbell added that while the fire department is currently separate from the city, Schneckloth’s continued presence as fire chief could pose an issue at some point given the city’s ongoing discussions about bringing the department under municipal control.

“It only presents issues for us if we decide to take over (the department),” Campbell said. “From our standpoint, as a fired city employee he is not a viable candidate to be fire chief.”

The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Schneckloth for comment.

City worker charged in previous theft 

Schneckloth is not the first Eldridge city worker to be accused of misusing public funds.

In 2024, former Eldridge Electric & Water Utility Board member Jacob Rowe was criminally charged with unauthorized use of a credit card, second-degree felony theft, unauthorized computer access to confidential records, tampering with records, and conspiracy to commit an aggravated misdemeanor.

According to police records, Rowe was ordered to turn in all city equipment when he was placed on leave in March, but he retained possession and control of utility records and other information.

He allegedly modified a document entitled “clothing allowance” and then modified or deleted files from a city-owned computer, disabled various operating systems, deleted email communications on his city-owned email account and deleted work-related text messages.

According to police, the unauthorized use of city money included $900 in clothing purchases. Police records state that an internal affairs investigation confirmed Rowe had submitted an expense reimbursement request for a purchase made at Dillard’s from the store’s “pajamas and robes” department. The investigation reportedly confirmed that the purchase was for men’s underwear.

The theft charge was tied to two city-owned laptop computers, a separate hard drive and an iPad, all allegedly in Rowe’s possession and worth an estimated $2,800.

As part of a plea deal with Scott County prosecutors, all of the charges against Rowe, except for misdemeanor fifth-degree theft charge, were dismissed. After pleading guilty to the theft charge, Rowe was fined $105.

Court records show the city had sought $3,115 in restitution from Rowe. The court ultimately ordered Rowe to pay $342 in restitution.

Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com.