Scioto County Commissioners had no comment about what prompted search warrants served by Ohio’s Auditor’s Office on the Commissioners and the county’s Office of Economic Development. The State has offered no details on the nature of the investigation, and commissioners didn’t offer any new details at Thursday’s meeting.
Commissioner Scottie Powell said he understood the public’s interest. “It is an ongoing investigation, and we are well aware of the warrants that were served. This office is cooperating fully with investigators and will continue to do so. We are very cooperative with what they have requested of us.”
Commissioner Cathy Coleman said she had nothing to add. Commissioner Bryan Davis did not attend Thursday’s meeting.
Powell said, “I don’t know if there’s a whole lot we can share. The warrant was shared with us through legal counsel, so I don’t have clarification if I can share. We are just as anxious for whatever this is. If there’s something there, let the investigators do what they need to do. If there’s not, we’re interested in knowing if there’s nothing there. One way or the other. It’s a double-sided coin, and we ask the public to be patient with the process. We sure have been.”
The commissioners then went into an hour-long executive session to approve a new hire and put an unidentified county employee on paid leave pending an investigation.
SCDN has requested a copy of the search warrant, the name of the judge who signed it, and an inventory of any items seized. We are awaiting a response from the Scioto County Prosecutor’s office, which also acts as the legal counsel for the Economic Development office and the County Commissioners.