Former official to be sentenced

By D.a. Wilkinson

County officials process about 1,500 payments per month.

LISBON — Columbiana County officials are taking new steps to oversee spending in the wake of the case against Robert Morehead, the former county health commissioner.

Morehead is to be sentenced at 10:30 a.m. Friday in common pleas court.

In December, Morehead, 59, of Wellsville, entered a guilty plea of theft in office for improper spending. He originally was charged with seven felony counts that could have resulted in a prison sentence of 71‚Ñ2 years.

He also owes the county about $10,000 for buying books and other items not related to the health department.

The case began more than four years ago during a Vindicator examination of travel spending by county officials.

The steps to get a better handle on county spending were not aimed directly at the Morehead case, but officials believe they will help prevent a similar case.

Penny Traina, president of the commissioners, said Monday she planned to go to the upcoming annual meeting of the Advisory Board of the Columbiana County Board of Health. The advisory board is composed of representatives of areas of the county that name health board members.

Traina said her visit is not in response to the Morehead case.

But, she added, she will have an opportunity to meet the head of the health board — which does not report to the commissioners — so they can get to know each other and work together.

In early 2008, all three commissioners went to a meeting of the county’s board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities after it was discovered that a new levy would have raised $3.3 million a year even though the agency had ample funds. The commissioners said nothing, and the developmental disabilities board, on its own, removed the levy from the ballot.

The commissioners also recently enacted a policy that requires spending requests to be at their office at noon Tuesday before their 9 a.m. Wednesday meetings. Requests sometimes were received just as the meeting started. The commissioners want to study the requests without a rush.

Nancy Milliken, county auditor, said the purchase of a new computer system in 2006 was a big help in watching spending by county departments. The system allows her department to run different spending reports.

To spend money, an official sends a purchase request to Milliken’s office. Her office certifies that the county department has enough funds, and sends the paperwork back. The department then sends a voucher stating the purchase and cost back to the auditor’s office.

“I have an employee who takes a look at every voucher,” Milliken said.

County officials submit 1,500 vouchers a month. Of those, the county takes a look at a handful each week.

The more obscure the language in the voucher, the more likely it needs review, she said.

wilkinson@vindy.com