If community activist and attorney Craig T. Conley wasn't pushing them, would Stark County elected officials (with the power to do so), be pursuing Stark County Treasurer Gary D. Zeigler to make the county whole for nearly three million dollars (Frustaci $2.45 million; unknown - the balance) in losses incurred during his watch over the Stark treasury?
One would think so, but there has been enough dilly-dallying around that Stark County citizens have to be wondering.
First, Conley representing Bethlehem Township citizen Tom Marcelli filed a suit on July 2, 2010 asking the Stark County Court of Common Pleas to find Zeigler "strictly liable" on a personal basis for any monies not recovered on Zeigler bonds, insurances and other resources.
How much might that be?
Yesterday at the Stark County commissioners' regular weekly meeting, Commissioner Steven Meeks seemed to be setting the amount that will be deficient at about $2 million.
Conley knows this too and he has to be sitting in his office about block south of the Stark County Office Building thinking to himself - what is taking these folks (the county prosecutor, auditor and commissioners) so long to get up and moving?
Like he did in asking Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero against Zeigler personally (which he still hasn't gotten a clear answer on), he is agitating the county commissioners and the county auditor to pursue Zeigler on what the SCPR understands to be $500,000 in bonds now; not later.
It was important for the personal liability lawsuit to be launched when Conley did so that a judgment that might be forthcoming in that lawsuit stands at the top of the priority list in levying against any assets held by Zeigler personally.
Bonds are not like insurance. Any payment by bonding companies to the county will cause the companies to pursue Zeigler for indemnification on any payments made.
Here is a copy of the letter from Conley (sent today) to Auditor Perez and to the commissioners setting the July 28, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. (the time the Clerk of Courts office closes) to file. If they don't, Conley tells the SCPR he will be at the courthouse doors bright and early on the 29th to file a mandamus actions against Perez and the commissioners whereby he asks the court to compel them to act on the bonds.
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