Carrollton Council initiates BCI investigation

By Thomas Clapper

CCM Reporter

Carrollton Village Council voted to contact the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to investigate a million-dollar certificate of deposit (CD) and irregularities in the golf cart amendments. 

“I don’t like to have to do this, but I am making the motion for (village solicitor) Clark Battista to immediately call BCI,” said Councilman Dan Locke who made the original motion after a discussion. “We have some problems in this village government.” Locke further noted illegal things have been going on. 

All five council members present at the meeting voted in favor. Council Woman Wilma Lambert was absent due to illness.

After passing a motion at the Sept. 25 meeting to put one million dollars into a CD for 5% growth at Wayne Savings Community Bank, council found out that the money was instead placed in Huntington Bank because of a “better rate.” 

“Clerk Darla Tipton came to me and asked my opinion,” said Mayor William Stoneman. “I was told Wayne Savings wouldn’t match the percentage, but Huntington had a better rate. I said I would not leave money on the table. I did not give an order to do so, it was my opinion.”

Tipton was absent from the meeting and could not provide her point of view of the situation.

“The motion was for Wayne Savings specifically,” said Councilwoman Brittany Tangler who brought up the idea originally a few meetings ago. “I find out through people from Wayne Savings that the motion I made was approved and passed, but the money did not go where it was going. It makes me wonder and worry about how many other motions we have made have not been to our wishes. If I make a motion that I think will get carried through and it doesn’t get carried through, that isn’t right.” 

Also, during the original vote on Sept. 25, Tangler stated the other banks in the village have money deposited by the village in a CD and it would be fair to do this to the new bank.

This shows that the percentage rate was never an issue or factor in the vote, it was to promote fairness. 

It is on record that Councilman Chris Barto voted no at that meeting on the motion. 

Another matter as a part of the investigation is the irregularities Locke stated in his motion. This is regarding the several amendments made with the intent to match Minerva’s ordinance. 

“After multiple amendments it still doesn’t match Minerva’s ordinance,” said Locke. “At least I don’t think so, there hasn’t been a straight new Ordinance with everything laid out that I have seen. I was against this in the first place, but it would be a disservice to the people who use golf carts not to get to the bottom of this. If a council passes something and it doesn’t see the results, I think a crime has been committed.”