Major step to improve integrity in Hillsboro city government?

“A government of laws, and not of men.” – John Adams

If Highland County Common Pleas Court records prove accurate, Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin has dropped an overwhelming surprise on his boss, Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings, as well as his real bosses – the taxpaying citizens, voters and property owners of the city.

Call it a bombshell, if you will, given the sordid history of city government the past four years.

If Wilkin is being straightforward, this is a major concern for city taxpayers – and perhaps a crucial first step.

The court records indicate that Wilkin says he did not sign a reimbursement authorization for his boss – whom he has previously referred to publicly as a “great man.”

As reported from court records, on June 24, 2015, Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin supposedly wrote to Hillsboro City Auditor Gary Lewis: "Please issue a refund of the $500 Vacant Building Registration Fee paid in November 2014 for the property at 135 North High Street. The building is no longer considered to be a vacant building."

Lewis complied with the request, even though Wilkin said he was not at work on June 24 and did not sign the document. (One would think that city officials would know if the safety and service director was not at work.)

The refund was to be made payable to Hastings’ business, Firehouse Square Partners, 100 S. High St., Hillsboro.

A purchase order for the refund was signed by the auditor on June 30, 2015. (If, indeed, that is the auditor's signature.)

According to court records, Wilkin told Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited and an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI) that in November 2014, Hastings paid a fee of $500, as required by the vacant building ordinance in the Hillsboro City Code. This fee was for the property located at 135 North High St. in Hillsboro, across from the city building.

Again, according to court records, Wilkin told officers that in June 2015, he received a request from Heather Collins and Debbie Sansone, both administrative assistants in the city offices, to reimburse Hastings the $500. Wilkin told officers that he sent an email to Sansone with proper procedures outlined in the ordinance for reimbursement.

More importantly, Wilkin told officers that it was not his signature on the June 24, 2015 letter to City Auditor Gary Lewis, and that he did not authorize the payment or his signature to be used for the reimbursement. That’s an important revelation in this ongoing investigation. If he did not sign the document – and if he did not prepare it – who did? And on whose orders?

Wilkin said that reimbursement can only be made after inspection by the Paint Creek Joint EMS and Fire Department. He said that he had an ink stamp signature which matches the signature on the document, but that he was out of town on June 24, 2015, the date of the authorization for the reimbursement.

Chief Whited said he had checked with the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District, and no records were found on any inspection in 2015 for the property at 135 North High St. in Hillsboro.

Whited said that he has received information from city employees that “Hastings or persons driving Hastings' truck” have dumped building materials and carpet into the city-owned Dumpster located on Railroad Street in Hillsboro. The last occasion was reportedly on Dec. 3 or Dec. 4 of 2015 and witnessed by several city employees, including the Public Works Supervisor.

Court records indicate that city employees were aware at the time that Hastings was doing work at his personally owned properties in Hillsboro. A retired city employee reportedly told Whited that he has assisted Hastings, while on city work time and in a city vehicle, remove items from Hastings' properties at 108 Gov. Trimble Place and at 107 West Beech St. in Hillsboro and dispose of them in the city Dumpster on Railroad Street.

All this comes from a search warrant issued by the Hon. Judge Rocky A. Coss and executed by the office of Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera at the request of Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited.

The mayor’s more vocal supporters seem to be saying “So what? It’s only $500. No big deal. Pay the money back and move on.”

Not so fast.

We are, as Founding Father John Adams rightfully noted, “A government of laws, and not of men.”

Writing for The Patriot Post (http://patriotpost.us/commentary/26902) in a column published on June 24 (a real red-letter day lately) 2014 and entitled “The United States of America: 'A Nation of Laws, Not a Nation of Men,’” James Shott notes: “A primary element that has separated the United States of America from virtually every other nation in history is the concept of it being a nation of laws, not a nation of men.

“’A nation of laws’ means that laws, not people, rule. Everyone is to be governed by the same laws, regardless of their station; whether it is the most common American or members of Congress, high-ranking bureaucrats or the president of the United States; all must be held to the just laws of America. No one is, or can be allowed to be, above the law.”

Indeed.

Members of Hillsboro City Council include a retired career educator, a practicing attorney and a retired Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper. Surely, they understand Adams’ concept on the rule of law.

In brushing aside the allegations, the Hillsboro mayor told one of his most loyal supporters that the allegations are “ludicrous” and part of a political “witch hunt.”

If so, the timing of the alleged witch hunt is curious. After all, he won his re-election on Nov. 3 with help from local Republicans and all the way to the Ohio House speaker. Whether the party's once ardent support of their candidate remains so is an interesting question. So far, we've seen no official statement from the Grand Old Party – either locally or from Columbus.

If this is a political witch hunt (not likely), it serves less purpose in late December than it may have served in late October. Hunting season (the political kind) ended in early November.

Furthermore, if this is a political witch hunt, is the mayor’s chosen safety and service director complicit in the alleged pursuit? That's a stretch for even the more enthusiastic conspiracy theorists.

Given what was reported and is on file with Highland County Common Pleas Court and Judges Kevin L. Greer, a Republican, and Rocky A. Coss, a Democrat, it would be very interesting for the mayor to allege that these honorable public servants are somehow part of any so-called conspiracy. The same holds true for Sheriff Barrera and Chief Whited.

Frankly, I don’t believe that Judge Coss issues search warrants for political reasons. Nor do I believe that local law enforcement officers would seek search warrants for political reasons.

There has to be a valid reason or reasons.

God bless Todd Wilkin, but now what? All of this brings the obvious question: Is there anything else?

Perhaps the safety and service director will share more information as the investigation continues. As to what transpired on June 24, 2015 in the city administration offices, there ought to be considerable records available. Cell phone records are easily retrievable from the service provider. City emails and telephone records ought to be available. 

And let us not forget the famous "SODDIT" defense: Some Other Dude Did It." But as it stands, it would seem fewer than 10 people might be employees of interest regarding the $500 refund – and only one of them cashed the check.

Another curious thing: Since the city administration is involved in establishing and enforcing the laws, shouldn’t someone (perhaps the mayor) have questioned all of this prior to cashing the check?

If the city is going to enact laws on the rest of us, its employees ought to set the standard for compliance. There is a pattern, here.

It was stated in 2012 by the city auditor in response to a Highland County Press inquiry regarding awnings placed on the mayor’s Governor Trimble property: "There has been no sign permit/application along with payment for the awnings mentioned (along Governor Trimble Place). It is my understanding that the owner of the property was not aware of the need to do so for an awning. Apparently, John Hern (who serves on the city's sign permit committee) mentioned this to the administration and the application will be made today."

Why did it take someone from the sign committee to explain city code to a sitting mayor?

In July 2014, city employees and city equipment were utilized to enhance one of the mayor’s properties: This one along West Beech Street at the High Street intersection. It’s possible that that project was scheduled in full prior to the mayor’s acquisition. Still, the appearance was suspect.

At that time, Hillsboro city employee Craig Jackson told The Highland County Press: “We were told to get with the program or get out.”

Maybe more city employees will speak up, as Jackson, a 14-year city worker, has. It takes courage, to be sure.

Todd Wilkin has shown some courage. So has Craig Jackson.

Now, according to a Dec. 16 search warrant signed by Judge Coss, there is probable cause to believe that in the city of Hillsboro the following criminal offenses have occurred:

• Forgery, in violation of 2913.31 of the Ohio Revised Code; and,

• Theft in office in violation of 2921.41 of the Ohio Revised Code.

The Highland County Sheriff's Office executed the warrant. Hillsboro Police Chief Todd Whited said he requested that the HCSO handle the search warrant. The warrant included searches of the mayor's office, safety and service director's office and the auditor's office.

A hearing before Judge Greer is set for 9 a.m. Dec. 23.

From records released thus far, a major step has been taken to improve government integrity in the city of Hillsboro. Let the sun shine in.

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.