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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > August > 10 > Entry
Dynus, Jolivette and ‘Little Chicago’
In case you missed it, we had a wrap-up this weekend of two of the biggest talks of the town in Butler County this week: Accusations of nepotism against Commissioner Gregory Jolivette and the ongoing Dynus trial.
First, we had this intro:
Butler County is doing more than its share these days to keep the FBI and Ohio Ethics Commission busy.
Two of the county’s three commissioners are under investigation by the ethics commission on accusations of nepotism.
The most recent subject is Commissioner Gregory Jolivette, who admits to voting on the hiring of and pay for both his son and daughter as county employees in 2004 through 2006.
The investigation of Commissioner Charles Furmon and former County Administrator Derek Conklin is still ongoing. They are being examined to learn what role, if any, they played in pay raises given to Furmon’s son-in-law and Conklin’s wife.
That investigation has already taken more than a year.
Then there’s the federal Dynus Corp. trial, which has sent skeletons tumbling out of the county’s closet.
This was the second week of the federal trial of Orlando Carter, the former fiber optics firm’s owner, in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati. He has pleaded not guilty to an 11-count indictment that includes charges of bank fraud.
So far, Carter has been a minor player the stories about his trial, eclipsed by allegations of bribery, fraud and political influence for sale.
It was known that former county auditor Kay Rogers played a role in Dynus taking out a multimillion dollar loan in the county’s name when she pleaded guilty to bank fraud.
But what emerged from the testimony by former Dynus president Jim Smith were claims that he bribed Rogers and worked in collaboration with former commissioner Michael Fox to get the job done behind others’ backs.
Fox denies any wrongdoing, calling Smith a liar. Others implicated in the trial — including Scott Owens, former executive director of the county Republican Party, and West Chester Twp. Trustee George Lang — said they were lawfully hired by the company for a job.
That job was using their political influence to help the company land a contract with the county.
As the trial continues and a re-election race nears for Jolivette, continued hard-nosed politics and mounting scandals could put a new twist on the county seat’s old nickname — “Little Chicago.”
Two stories accompanied in Sunday’s paper.
Dave Greber followed with this story about Jolivette’s political future. Excerpt:
Accusations that Butler County Commissioner Gregory Jolivette engaged in nepotism seems to be making him vulnerable to prospective candidates of his seat.
Since allegations surfaced two weeks ago that Jolivette voted on resolutions having to do with his son’s and daughter’s county employment, three people have taken out petitions to run against him next year.
Jolivette said he will run to keep his seat on the commission.
As of Friday, Aug. 7, petitions had been pulled by County Treasurer Nancy Nix, Hamilton resident Bob Weber and a yet-to-be named candidate whose petition was picked up by the executive assistant to Clerk of Courts Cindy Carpenter.
Carpenter said last week there were no announcements coming from her office, although she is considering running and has been in contact with members of the county’s Republican Party.
On Thursday, July 30, Jolivette admitted to moving and voting on a resolution in 2005 to hire his son, Kevin, for a job with the county’s summer work program. He said former county Administrator Derek Conklin — who has declined to comment on the issue — advised him doing so would not be a problem. And when the resolution was read during the May 13, 2005, meeting — by title only — Jolivette says he never noticed it included his son’s name.
The next day, it was determined that Jolivette also voted on several resolutions over a three-year period involving the hiring and pay of his daughter, Elizabeth, who was employed with the county’s Department of Job and Family Services in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
And I wrote this story with reactions to testimony at the Dynus trial from Michael Fox. Scott Owens and others mentioned in court. Excerpt:
A bribed county auditor. A county commissioner engaged in back room deals. A local GOP leader hired to grease the wheels on an illicit deal. A township trustee giving a kickback to a company executive for business he received.
These were all allegations leveled last week in the federal court trial of former Dynus Corp. owner Orlando Carter in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.
The trial has shed light on some dark corners of Butler County, and drawn ire from a public growing weary of scandal.
County officials said this is not how business is supposed to work. Some denied the accusations and implications made in court. Others refused to comment.
Read the stories, then come back here and tell us what you think.
Permalink | Comments (19) | Post your comment |
Comments
By disappointedrepublican
August 10, 2009 11:37 AM | Link to this
Let’s not forget the personal legal woes of the current Butler Co GOP “leader” Tom Ellis. Don’t reckon that Ellis has been doing a little money exchanges in his public life, do you?
By disappointedrepublican
August 10, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this
Let’s not forget the personal legal woes of the current Butler Co GOP “leader” Tom Ellis. Don’t reckon that Ellis has been doing a little money exchanges in his public life, do you?
By Willard
August 10, 2009 11:41 AM | Link to this
Two of the three commissioners are under investigation for nepotism violations. Yet the third commissioner is living with his girl friend that is a department head. Oh what for a marriage license he too would be under investigation.
By Max
August 10, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this
While we are talking about conflict what about Robin Piper. How can he be fair in his dealings with issues of Jolivette when Jolivette is voting on matters affecting the budget of the prosecutor’s office? Does anyone else see a conflict here? Robin it’s time to ask for a special prosecutor, NOW.
By pw
August 10, 2009 12:35 PM | Link to this
“County officials said this is not how business is supposed to work.” What do they mean by that? They aren’t suppose to get caught, squeal on each other, what? That’s how it has worked in But County for too long. Too bad for them. Keep singing.
By Matt Hurley
August 10, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this
“Implicated”? Really??? I don’t think that word means what you think it does… Here is how dictionary.com defines it: “to show to be also involved, usually in an incriminating manner: to be implicated in a crime.” Scott Owens and George Lang haven’t been “implicated” in anything. They were, as you later state, legally hired to do a job. Let’s be a little more careful with our words, Josh…I expect more out of an Intrepid Reporter…
By tired
August 10, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this
They should not stop there. Now is ther time to clean up the city as well. They have and are doing the same thing with there new hires….Also if someone would check there would be a lot of bedfellows as well. CAN you say no ethics either
By let'em fall
August 10, 2009 3:05 PM | Link to this
Matt don’t fall on the sword for the party which has been riddled with corruption and questionable dealings. You may feel they are your “friends” but they would roll over on you too. Becareful who you try to defend. Implicated is the right term, particularly after the guilty verdict comes out and Carter starts singing.
By Tim
August 10, 2009 4:31 PM | Link to this
Matt the defender of all Republicans, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines implicate “to bring into intimate or incriminating connection”, the word fits well in relation to these to shady characters and their dealings.
By John
August 11, 2009 5:32 AM | Link to this
Who was the other county commissioner at the time of of the Dynus dealings? Was that commissioner involved in any way. As for the name of “Little Chicago” being applied to the great city of Hamilton, it kind of fits.
By Steve Myers
August 11, 2009 7:55 AM | Link to this
Oh that the denizens of the Hamiltucky region would garner themselves with an education if nothing more than a high school basic education with an attempted mastery of the basics of the English language? Hamilton/Butler County aspires to be a community adored by outsiders. However, so long as the general populace remains forever entrenched in its Appalachian ancestral mountain folklore, it will remain the scorn of all around her. Once a bunch of hicks, always a bunch of hicks. The scariest detail of the whole region is the amount of so-called “educated” red-necks that run the county and the city of Hamiltucky. Long live the RED (necks), WHITE (trucks), and BLUE (ribbon beer)!
By Kentucky Colonel
August 11, 2009 8:56 AM | Link to this
Steve, what are you talking about? All three county commissioners brag they are lifelong residents of Butler County and all proudly claim educations in the schools of Butler County. Thus, there are no Kentuckians on the county commission. In fact I don’t know of any county office holder that was born in good old Kentucky. Looks like all the trouble makers are Buckeyes not Briars.
By Ed
August 11, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this
On this nepotism thing, everyone still talks about Chuck Furmon having an ex-son-in-law working for the county. I can’t really see Chuck doing much for an EX son-in-law, in fact I don’t speak to my ex-son-in-law. Jolly gets his kids low paying summer jobs and its front page news. However, Don Dixon has a current fiancée working at the Board of Elections and yet no one has a problem with that? As I recall, most men do whatever their fiancée tells them to do and we happy do it.
By Set The Record Straight
August 11, 2009 10:54 AM | Link to this
To ED:Please read slowly so you will get it. #1.Commissioner Chuck Furmon is over Jobs & Family Services where his son in law worked. Meaning he had to agree on all their pay raises.Does this give you an idea why son in law jumped from $18,000. to over $80,000.??? #2.RE: Jolivette THE LAW STATES “ELECTED OFFICIALS SHALL NOT HIRE FAMILY MEMBERS.” PERIOD.#3 Dixon’s fiance worked 30 yrs for the Boad of elections before Dixon ever became a Cty Commissioner. She has four Board Members over her that sets her salary and Dixon is not one of them!
By Bob Weber
August 11, 2009 11:44 AM | Link to this
By noting she has been there 30 years, set it straight failed to mention she is double dipping. That creates less opportunities for others and is unethical - and basically equals greed. The counter argument is always that it’s legal - well it’s unethical and creates the type of environment we have now - people never vacate positions and milk it until the government cow runs dry. The county cow is revenue dry right now! The county needs to implement a “no double dipping” policy - and no grand fathering allowed. I believe the Hamilton School District now has a new policy in place, but did grandfather all those already occupying former positions they held dipping away like mad. Check that out. With the county we get shady deals, double dipping and nepotism as the status quo - what a way to run a railroad! The public is fed up with all of this! There are honest people who can run the county in a better business-like fashion than what we have now!
By Don't get it
August 11, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this
People retire on social security and go out and get another job (that someone else could have) all the time. Are you saying Mr. Weber when we retire we should no longer work ? Should we just stand at the corner and wait for the morgues hurst to pick us up? I think it is terrific when one retires and continues working. Shows a lot of gumption. By the way aren’t you the same Bob Weber that has run for election over and over and can’t get elected? Maybe you should follow your own advice and retire from the ballot.
By Marla
August 11, 2009 3:06 PM | Link to this
Set the Record Straight, has Don Dixon as commissioner voted on matters related to the Board of Elections where his lady friend works? YES!! Does the county through the County Commission provide funds for the Board of Elections? YES!! Dixon had voted for every cut in the budget until it came to the motion that included the Board of Election,he then voted NO!!
By Bob Weber
August 11, 2009 3:27 PM | Link to this
Don’t get it: You don’t “retire” from a public sector job and go back to the exact same public sector job. How does that make sense at all? It’s a sleazy scam and always has been. Of course the option to continue working in the private sector after retirement is always available to any citizen. We are talking about government positions here - do you understand the difference? Taxpayers fund these positions; hence we have a voice in determining policy. Our previous county administrator’s lavish double-dip scheme was a perfect example of the practice. Did you approve of that county deal? I am always amazed how many post without using their name - if you can’t say something using your own name, you lose any credibility you might think you have.
By No regard for the truth (SAD)
August 14, 2009 10:10 AM | Link to this
TO WRITER MARLA - We realize anyone can say whatever they want to on a blog - WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE TRUTH (such as your statements). Dixon always abstains on any vote concerning the Board of Elections.