BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—During Thursday’s Finance Committee meeting, Councilwoman Vicki Dishon delivered a detailed statement regarding her investigation into the Bratwurst Festival’s financial disclosures, specifically focusing on the 940EZ forms she accessed online. Dishon turned to those filings to gain perspective on the Festival’s financial practices.
Dishon was disappointed because Chairman Kevin Myers had already recused himself from the meeting before she could address her findings. She told the committee she had hoped he could shed some light on her findings.
Dishon’s scrutiny of the Festival’s financial records revealed an imbalance in the itemization of expenses versus revenue collection.
Expenses were itemized, but sources of revenue were not.
City records from 2023 indicated that the city incurred costs totaling $21,576.74 for services provided to the Festival, including overtime pay, comp time and fill time to various departments, pension contributions, trash disposal, and fuel expenses.
Myers assumed the role of Director in 2021. Dishon highlighted his initial willingness to share financial details when he volunteered to present the books to the council.
She expressed curiosity about the shift in Myers’s stance on transparency over time.
When asked, Dishon noted that other directors turned the records over to the council.
Dishon’s investigation delved into past forms submitted to the Ohio Attorney General, uncovering questionable expenses and revenue figures. Notable discrepancies included payments for services not rendered, including city cleanup costs of $8,164.00 when the Festival was not held downtown that year. In 2009, the Festival was moved to the county fairgrounds.
She questioned $45,100 for entertainment expenses in 2015.
In 2017, the Festival claimed $9,239.00 for a golf cart rental. Dishon said, “I have a problem with that.”
She emphasized the importance of incorporating financial transparency clauses in future contracts between the city and the Festival.
The public participation segment saw Bucyrus resident Clarissa Slater expressing her concerns to the council. Slaughter commended Dishon’s investigative efforts but lamented the discord among council members, particularly criticizing the gender-based bickering among the women. She told the council that misogynistic men on Facebook had called the women on the council a bunch of “clucking hens” and wrote that is why women shouldn’t be on the council. “I’m sorry, but I read it. As women, we can do better.” Slater said.
She underscored the Festival’s significance in promoting the city, telling the committee, “Do not ruin 50 years of a partnership over this.”
In response, Carolyn Shireman encouraged community engagement by inviting Facebook followers to attend council meetings and voice their opinions.
Shireman blamed the dissension directly on the Festival for not turning over their financials when requested. “This could have all been avoided,” Shireman said.
Despite the discussions and impassioned pleas, the committee refrained from deciding on the issue.
Crawford County Now remains committed to providing updates on this evolving story.