MACEDONIA: Former Mayor Donald Kuchta violated state ethics laws by ordering city workers to plow his driveway and collect his garbage for free, according to a settlement agreement with the Ohio Ethics Commission.
The state agency launched an investigation after receiving allegations against him. The settlement agreement is dated Sept. 27, but was made public Thursday by Cleveland.com.
Kutcha, who opted not to run for re-election in 2015, has paid $525 in restitution for the garbage service, and admitted to violating the laws to avoid prosecution, the agreement says. The city law director said the former mayor, also serving as safety director, needed his driveway plowed to respond to emergencies.
The commission also investigated whether Kutcha performed weddings and kept the money, and diverted an order to have his city salary garnished to avoid paying an outstanding debt. But the commission said it found “insufficient evidence” to support those allegations.