Thursday, December 16, 1999
Villa Hills meeting tense
City-spending probe sought
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
VILLA HILLS — Long-simmering tensions among city officials erupted during a four-hour council meeting Thursday that ended with calls for an independent probe of city spending.
Councilman Mike Sadouskas and other council members said an investigation is needed to clear up rumors and allegations that city money has been misspent.
“People's reputations are important,” Mr. Sadouskas said. “Do we want to go for another year with people thinking that somehow there is something corrupt here?
“I don't think there is, but I know of only one way to prove it,” he said.
Several council members said they have been confronted and questioned by residents both privately and during council meetings over city spending.
Members also charged that the questions were politically motivated.
“This is purely political,” said Councilman Tim Sogar.
Mr. Sadouskas proposed and then withdrew a motion asking the Villa Hills Police Department to investigate the city's financial and other records from the last two years.
Police Chief Michael Brown told council that because his department is a part of the city, an outside agency would have to conduct any formal probes. Council members asked him to research what the scope and cost of an investigation would be if it were conducted by the Attorney General's Office, the Kentucky State Police or the Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney's Office.
Mr. Sadouskas repeatedly said he was “temporarily” withdrawing his motion so he could meet with the city's auditor and ask some questions about the city's finances.
He gave every indication that he intends to reintroduce the motion at a future council meeting.
“I want to see if (the auditor) can clarify whether or not there has been unauthorized or inappropriate use of credit cards or anything else,” Mr. Sadouskas. “Because I think this has to end. And I think the only way it is going to end is if we open the books and let somebody take a look at it.”
The controversy over the spending came at the end of a long, at times heated, meeting that also included arguments over fixing a road, leaking information to the media, committee assignments and infighting among council members.
Several residents who attended the meeting said people who live in the city think the council spends too much time bickering and not enough time providing services or paying attention to the needs of the public.
“How about on Jan. 1 everyone just grow up and start getting along,” said Jeff Harfiel. “You're not 5-year-old kids up there. We're suffering from it. Get along.
“A lot of stuff would get accomplished if everyone just worked together.”
“Make it a New Year's resolution,” added resident Ron King.
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