Amador County – Ione City Council last week heard that claims of impropriety were unfounded against former mayor and current Councilman David Plank in his request for reimbursement for travel expenses for a trip to San Francisco.

Ione residents are expected to go to the polls today to cast their votes on whether or not to recall Plank, and decide on two replacement candidates.

The recall was spearheaded by members of the group “Voice In Ione,” James Nevin and former Councilman Dan Sinclair, who were signatories on a Notice of Intent to Circulate a petition for recall Plank.

Sinclair and Nevin were critical of Plank and sent letters of complaint about Plank’s request for reimbursement for a trip he took to San Francisco for a convention while Mayor, and while representing the city. Mayor Ron Smylie at a recent meeting reported that he discussed the investigation by Jackson Police Department, whose detective said only that the case was continuing.

Last week, Ione Police Chief Michael L. Johnson delivered summary statement letters to the complainants about JPD’s findings.

City Manager Jeff Butzlaff in a memo to the Ione City Council said the report on the JPD investigation was received Feb. 15 by Johnson. He said: “Legal counsel advises that the investigatory file is not a public record” per Government Code, “which shields such files from public disclosure.” Butzlaff said Chief Johnson “therefore prepared in letter form to Dan Sinclair and Jim Nevin” a “summary statement as to the outcome of the investigation by the Jackson Police Department.”

Copies of the letters sent to Sinclair and Nevin were given to the City Council with its Feb. 21 agenda. The letters, in part, noted that the JPD “has completed the investigation of (then) Mayor Dave Plank. The allegations set forth in your complaint of ‘deliberately inaccurate, inflated and contain fraudulent document expenses not incurred’ have been determined unfounded. The facts revealed in the investigation do not support any criminal negligence, malice fraudulent intent, or misuse of public funds on behalf of Mayor David Plank.”

Johnson in the letters wrote that: “The investigation revealed that Mayor Plank underestimated his travel expenses and was entitled to additional reimbursements as per General Service Administration/IRS Reimbursement rates.” Johnson said “no criminal charges will be pursued,” and “the case has been closed. Thank you for your concerns into the fiscal integrity of the City of Ione.”

Polls close in the recall election at 8 p.m. today. Ione has 2,071 registered voters who will be eligible to vote. One polling place, Evalynn Bishop Hall, will be used in the special election, and results will be hand-counted by the Amador County Elections Department.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.