MARION—Robert E. Landon III, currently seated Auditor for the City of Marion, will learn if the Marion City Finance Committee will forward a resolution to the Auditor of the State of Ohio. This resolution is a request to investigate Landon’s practices while in office. The Auditor oversees the city’s income tax department and ensures the budget is balanced.
After reviewing the information during the Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday, the decision to move the resolution to the floor during this Monday’s meeting was unanimous.
Landon, 30, ousted incumbent Kelly Carr last November by only 314 votes for the elected position of Auditor.
According to sources, an unidentified employee directly supervised by Landon received an email allegedly from the Mayor ordering him to purchase $2000.00 in gift cards from Target. When the employee responded there were no Target stores in Marion, he was told to go to Walmart. The employee followed directions and notified the scammer he had completed the task. He was then told to go back and repeat the process. The employee followed the second set of instructions as well.
Previously, it was believed that the employee only charged $2000.00 on city credit cards. A confidential source informed Crawford County Now that the employee charged the entire $4000.00 to the city credit cards/ taxpayer money.
When the scam was discovered, the employee’s family paid the entire amount back to the city. According to sources, the employee did not initially resign but asked for further training. However, the city has stated he did indeed resign with no report of his request for further training.
Landon may face additional questions regarding the hiring of this employee and the qualifications needed for that position. According to the Job Classification Plan, otherwise known as the Yarger Plan, there are specific guidelines when hiring city government employees. Exceptions can be made but not without council approval.
The guidelines for that position required five years of experience and a 2-4 degree in accounting. It is unclear whether the employee had graduated from Marion Technical College when hired by Landon.
The meeting to vote on this resolution will take place tonight during Marion’s regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting is aired live on Marion’s YouTube Channel.
Crawford County Now will continue to cover this unfolding story.