By Steve Kemme
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - To make it easier for them to investigate the Butler Metropolitan Housing Authority, the county commissioners appointed their attorney on an interim basis Thursday to the agency's board.

Gary Sheets, the commissioners' attorney, will serve as the commissioners' representative on the board until May 20.

He replaces Herman Hill, who resigned in hopes that other board members would follow his example.

A recent review by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) criticized the agency's finances, reporting and tracking; and questioned the qualifications of Executive Director Leonard M. "Tony" Blaine and board members.

The commissioners have called for the resignation of all board members to give the agency a fresh start.

But the commissioners have control of just one of the five board members.

Hamilton appoints two board members, and Common Pleas Court and Probate Court each appoint one.

The commissioners want to investigate the housing authority's $750,000 purchase of a building in International Paper's Knightsbridge complex and the closing of the Bambo Harris housing development in Hamilton.

The HUD review sharply criticized the board for both actions.

The commissioners say that having Sheets on the board will give the commissioners easy access to documents they want without making formal Freedom of Information Act requests.

"We feel with his legal background, he can quickly obtain the documents we want concerning the Knightsbridge purchase and the Bambo Harris closing," Commissioner Courtney Combs said.

E-mail skemme@enquirer.com