In our opinion: Stevensville
An allegation of betrayal and a failure of duty
Published: Friday, February 19, 2010 1:09 PM EST
Public trust - always in short supply in these cynical times - lies in tatters today in scandal-torn Stevensville.
From the accused former village manager to the incompetent village council, for close to three years residents of this small village seemingly had virtually no one in a position of power adequately safeguarding their hard-earned tax dollars.
We base this statement on the direct and damning accusations leveled by state auditor Derek Hall Wednesday evening in his presentation to the village council. "Yes, there was an embezzlement, and yes, it was Todd Gardner," Hall said. The state, which recently completed a detailed audit of village finances, alleges that Gardner stole $277,647 from the village during his three-year tenure as manager.
It is one of those times when adjectives just don't quite do justice in trying to describe what the state says transpired. Outrageous ... egregious ... unconscionable. They all apply, along with any number of descriptions you could dream up.
Gardner presumably will have his day in court to defend himself, though as of this writing we have not heard of charges being filed. But if half of what Hall said is accurate, that could change at any time, and residents are right to feel cheated - and to question how a public official allegedly could sink to such depths of betrayal. So far such questions far outstrip answers.
Stevensville residents also deserve to know what their public guardians were doing during this time.
The state auditor pulled no punches in his assessment: "Yes, he took $277,647, he being Todd Gardner. ... But you, as the council, are just as responsible because you gave him the keys to the kingdom and provided no oversight," Hall said.
It's a strong indictment - one we largely agree with. Although incompetence certainly does not rise to the level of the alleged criminality, this council clearly did not perform the primary duty that voters tasked it with - namely, to provide oversight of village operations. Those members serving on the council during Gardner's tenure include Village Council President Lori Gibson, plus trustees Don Meyer, Don Schlipp, Kim Peters, Pat Arter, Steve Slavicek and Ken Hansen (Slavicek and Hansen were appointed to the council in December 2007).
Hall presented instances in which glaring red flags were present that should have been questioned, such as a fund balance shrinking from $400,000 to $200,000 without the documented expenses.
These council members may simply be fine people with good intentions who were in over their heads. Taxpayers, however, deserve more than good intentions. These elected officials sought public office but did not perform their sworn duty.
Some residents have called for council resignations. We might concur but for the simple fact that in such a small municipality, wholesale resignations would leave the village in too much of a bind. Voters, however, should feel free to vent their frustration during the next round of elections.
(An opinion of The Herald-Palladium editorial board.)
