BUCYRUS — Vicki Dishon filed a civil lawsuit against the 2020-21 Bucyrus City Council in early January, seeking injunctive relief and civil forfeiture on 17 counts, each representing an occasion when she alleged council violated Ohio Revised Code section 121.22. The code addresses the issues of full transparency in city council meetings.
Interim Law Director Brian Gernert had to defend the city against what he called a “hyper technical application of the law.”
Dishon is a regular attendee of council meetings and often spends several minutes each meeting making corrections to minutes and addressing legislation concerns.
In the suit, Dishon asked for at least $8,500 in civil forfeitures — or $500 for each count, “and all court costs associated and any and all other relief, at law or equity to which plaintiff is entitled,” according to court documents.
However, Dishon fell short of that goal and accepted just $2500 from the City of Bucyrus.
Dishon continues to speak regularly at various council meetings citing errors in minutes and procedures. However, under newly adopted rules for all public input, Dishon is limited to just three minutes to air her grievances.
When contacted by Crawford County Now, Gernert had no comment on the litigation.