Commissioners OK $800-plus trip to Nashville, Tenn., for conference

One official said the need for the trip has been well documented.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Just two days after Columbiana County commissioners Jim Hoppel and Gary Williams said they would more intently monitor travel requests, they routinely approved a trip to Nashville for two juvenile court employees as well as several other trips.
The Tennessee visit, which is for a training conference in the country music capital, will cost at least $818, which includes a $345 registration fee, $271 for lodging and $202 for air fare for one of the travelers, Jeremy Matuska. The other, juvenile court administrator Dane Walton, is going free as part of a national association membership. Meal costs are undetermined.
The county's juvenile and probate courts were among county government's leading travel spenders in 2003, according to a survey done by The Vindicator as part of a story on spending.
Since 2001, the two courts have logged nine out-of-state trips for conferences and training, costing taxpayers about $16,100. That includes a journey this spring in which five court staffers, including Judge Thomas Baronzzi, jetted to Las Vegas for a conference that cost about $5,000.
Investigation begun
The Vindicator story has sparked a criminal probe and state audit focusing on county health Commissioner Robert Morehead's use of a county-issued credit card to buy personal items.
It also prompted Hoppel and Williams to say Monday that they would keep closer watch on travel spending.
The newspaper noted that the public has paid for stays in premium hotels and resorts, valet parking, trips to tourist destinations, meals unsupported with itemized receipts and overnight stays in Columbus for one-day events.
Much of county travel questioned by The Vindicator was approved by commissioners before the trips were taken.
Earlier this week, Hoppel said he would go as far as to have officeholders appear before commissioners in public and justify questionable trips. Hoppel said commissioners have a right to refuse travel requests that appear suspect.
But Commissioner Sean Logan, who also OK'd the travel, expressed confusion regarding whether commissioners can reject a travel request from an officeholder.
Pledges better review
On Wednesday, after approving the Nashville trip, Hoppel reiterated his intent to more closely review travel.
The Nashville conference, slated for May 16-19, was routinely approved because the need was "very well documented," Hoppel said.
The half-page travel request submitted to commissioners by Judge Baronzzi explained that the seminar would include probation matters geared toward court administrators and training on case management for juvenile sex offenders.
Also Wednesday, commissioners authorized a two-day trip to Columbus, beginning today, for Walton to attend a meeting.
The trip budget includes an estimated $82.50 for lodging. The travel request states it's undetermined what the cost will be for meals, registration and mileage.
Also approved was a $350 Columbus trip set for May 13-14 for the county adult probation department.