The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-12-07
Board Of CommIssi0ners for Porta
ATTEST:
S. r. FREEMAN. County Auditor.
TO THE HONORABLE GEO. F. ROBINSON,
l.. G. PAYNE,
o. f. HAYMAKER,
"

TO THE HONORABLE GEO. F. ROBINSON, JUDGE
OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS WITHIN
AND FOR PORTAGE COUNTY. OHIO.
Sir:-The undersigned committee, duly ap-
pointed by you at the September term, 1882, OF
sald COURT. 70 ASSIST the prosecuting attorney
nual report of the board of commissioners
under the provisions of section 9l7 of the Re-
vised Statutes OF Ohio, do make, and herewith
submit The following as the result OF said eX-
FIRST-We find that said commissioners
report was filed and made Septem Der IL. 1sS2
covering the financial transactions of said
board of commissioners from september Z.
1891, to September 8, 1892; and we further hnd
that said report substantially complies with
the requirements of section 917.
SECOND--We find that a journal has been
duly kept by the auditor, as commissioners
clerk. in which has been duly recorded all acts
of the commissioners with reference to the ex-
penditures of money. which have been ordered
by them to be recorded, and all other transact
ions of said board Of commissioners, except
such as are hereinafter referred 10, and we also
find that the settlem ents of and with the sew
eral officers OF this county have been duly
made,
THIRD-We have examined with care all the
vouchers on file for the payment OF money.
and find them properly receipted for. ard have
compared the same with the corresponding
entries on the commissioners journal. and the
other books and papers of evidence in the
office of the commissioners and of the auditor
and find them correct and duly authorized by
law, except as to voucher No. 1924. which
voucher evidences the payment to S. w. Shep-
ard Sl24e. IL for the furnishing OF material for,
township. Section 877 of the Revised Statutes
provides that the county commissioners in this
case should, before erecting such bridge or
culvert. publish and circulate handbills and
publish in one or more newspapers of the
county notice of their intention to erect said
bridge, and the location of the same for at
least four consecutive weeks prior to the time
of locating or erecting such bridge. And they
shall hear all petitions for the remonstrances
against such proposed location or improve
ment.'' In this instance section 877 was wholly
ignored. Referring to the same improvement,
section 878 provides that it is essential to the
validity of every contract entered into by the
commissioners, and to every order made by
them, that the same has been assented to at
regular or special session thereof and entered
in the minutes of their pro edings by the aud
itor. This section of the Statutes has been
wholly ignored; also by the commissioners in
the erection of the Hiram culvert and in the
payment OF said voucher No. 1924. And while
upon this subject we beg leave to report to
your honor upon a similar transaction of said
board OF commissioners, not strictly part of
the sail annual report. The journal, books
and vouchers of said commissioners show the
erection of and payment for bridge in Au-
rora township in September, 1892, the expense
of which exceeds one thousand dollars, with
out paying any regard to the provisions of
said sections Stand S7S of said Revised Stat
u.eS.
FOURTH In the matter of "The Way
Creek and the Little Cuyahoga River Ditch
In provement'' upon which action has been
taken by the commissioners, we find that, ap-
proXimately S450 has been expended by them
in making said improvement; and which i'm
provement was. by said commissioners, subse-
du6nGly, TO VIII, on Cn0 SUCn Gay OF 4 LecemDer,
1891, vacated and the proceedings therein dis
missed. We believe that the commissioners
proceedings in this matter were had in good
faith and with view of serving the public
good; but we are of the opinion that they were
rash and inconsiderate in their action in order
ing said Improvement to be made, and that the
expenditure of mfney necessitated thereby
was wasteful, reckless and extravagant.
FIFTH-We lind excessive charges for mile
age made by and allowed to Commissioner
Hubbard for services rendered in the county
in the following vouchers, to wit; AS. 1S9. 1854
and 11l6. And for mileage to Commissioner
Payne for services rendered in the county in
the following vouchers, to wit: 44S, 463, 7S8,
1888 and Ills.
| sixth We find that mileage has been
allowed and paid TO the commissioners for
necessary travel on official business out of this
county. We are of the opinion that this is
unlawful under the provisions of section S97 of
| the Revised Statutes.
| SEVENTH-We find that in the charges made
| by the commissioners for their reasonable and
necessary expenses when travelling within the
| county OF official business they make no item
| lied statement of such expenses. This we be-
| lieve to be contrary to the provisions of sec
| ton 697 of the Revised Statutes.
| EIGHTH-We find that the last committee
| reported $l445 paid to one of the board TOR ex-
penses to Columbus to attend the meeting of
| directed that the amount be paid back into the
| county treasury and that said amount has not
| been paid back as directed.
| NINTH-We find said commissioners have
made the proper levieS for the various county
| purposes in accordance with the Statutes in
such cases made and provided. We hereby ex-
| tend to the several county officers our thanks
| for courtesies extended us during our labors in
| the premises and we acknowledge our especial
| obligation to Auditor S. X. Freeman for his in
valuable aid in the prosecution of our duties
under the order of the court.
Respectfully submitted