The city has until Friday to compile records to fill a sweeping request from State Auditor Shad White’s office.
Both Mayor Stephen Jones and Chief Financial Officer Jim Brigham told The Dispatch the city is on track to meet that deadline.
“We plan on doing what they ask,” Jones said.
Jones received an email Oct. 3 from Layne Bounds, a special agent with the auditor’s investigations division, requesting a swath of contracts, financial records and other information involving several departments as part of an “ongoing investigation.” All records requested in the email span from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2025 – the entirety of the city’s last two fiscal years, which mostly occurred during former mayor Keith Gaskin’s administration.
The Dispatch obtained a copy Tuesday through a public records request submitted early last week.
“Nothing (about the email) concerns me,” Jones told The Dispatch on Wednesday. “I’m pretty sure that somebody called down there and said something, and (the auditor’s office is) just doing their job. I don’t think there’s anything to it. I don’t think we have anything to worry about as a city.”
Specifically, the auditor’s office seeks the city’s professional service contracts with Cintas, Unifirst, Busy Bee Cleaning Company, WOW Entertainment, Anchored Images, Next Stage Media and Reggilond Taylor (also known as Rick “Don’t Go” Mason), as well as vendor activity reports for those companies price quotes associated with those contracts, proof of service or product received for each of their invoices and payment information.
The auditor also wants itemized receipts and invoices for city payments to Amazon, Quill and Staples for those fiscal years, including details of items purchased.
Further, the email asks for deposits and expenditure information for all seizure accounts associated with Columbus Police Department, records maintained by the Human Resources Department documenting the transfer and use of donated time to the city’s sick leave bank, and all records related to a contract with Turner Excavation and Erosion for remodeling and repair work at Propst Park.
Jacob Walters, communications director for the auditor’s office, did not respond to calls or messages by press time. However, the office typically does not comment on active investigations.
Jones, who served nine years on the city council before becoming mayor July 1, said he has had no contact with the auditor’s office outside of getting the information request and replying to confirm he received it.
He also said he doesn’t know the nature of any complaint against the city or who filed it.
“Exactly what they are looking for, as far as what anyone has told them, I don’t know,” Jones said. “… I don’t think they are asking because any money is missing or anything like that. I think we’re good.”
White’s last investigation involving the city resulted in the August 2020 arrest of former chief financial officer Milton Rawle.
Rawle was later convicted of embezzling almost $300,000 from the city between December 2016 and December 2018. He died in prison in June 2023 while serving a 20-year sentence.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
