Signs of the Times: What is going on in College Corner?
October 12, 2022 at 7:47 p.m.
Driving through the small community of College Corner in October, one might expect to see the usual seasonal fare along with signs promoting upcoming November elections. This year, however, it is difficult to miss the many signs reading “We Support Deputy Ryan Jones” decorating the lawns. The town square displays a large banner showing the same support, as have homes and businesses on both the Ohio and Indiana sides, for more than a month.
A close-knit community, College Corner straddles the state line between Ohio and Indiana. The elementary school in town is College Corner Union School, in one of only two remaining “interstate districts” in the United States. The state line literally runs through the school's gymnasium, with West College Corner (Ind.) on one side and College Corner (Ohio) on the other.
It was in this community that Ryan Jones served as deputy for the past 14 years, through a contract with the Butler County (Ohio) Sheriff's Department, which included areas in Butler, Preble County (Ohio) and Union County (Ind.). While Jones is still employed by Butler County, his contract with College Corner was not renewed. Supporters of Jones, who feel the decision was made without the public's knowledge or input, reacted immediately to the news.
The debate went to Facebook, where it has been played out publicly by all sides. In town, signs began to go up, and a large community gathering was held, showing support for Jones and his family. Citizen groups began to circulate the results of their own public records requests online. From there, accusations flew. Some called Jones' removal “the straw that broke the camel's back” and say it's just “the tip of the iceberg.” Old arguments and words like “nepotism” resurfaced – words that hold real meaning in a governmental context – as did long-standing questions about water/sewer, distribution of finances, council structure and access to public meetings and records.
On Aug. 31, Mayor Jim Jackson responded online to what he deemed “misinformation” in a statement, “Responses from the Village of College Corner Mayor regarding Topics put forward on the College Corner Talk Facebook Group.” In it, Jackson addressed several issues, including the replacement of Deputy Jones:
“The Village of College Corner has had a contract with the Butler County Sheriff's Department since 1996. When the Police Contract was due for its annual renewal, the council wanted to amend it going forward. The Council wanted the contract to reflect concerns they had over the hours worked by the current assigned deputy in the Village of College Corner, Ohio. Specifically asking the deputy to flex his hours to reflect hours worked other than 5:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., daily.”
The statement is linked in full below and goes on to say that since “the deputy was not willing to comply with the Council's requests, they decided to move forward in a different direction to better serve the community.” Residents quickly began to respond that his daytime availability at their children's elementary school was what would be missed most.
A civil action was filed against the Village of College Corner, according to the Facebook group “Fix Your Budget, College Corner”, along with five members of the council, citing violations of the Ohio Public Meetings Act. The council is accused of illegally using executive sessions, part of what's known as the Sunshine Laws. These laws require specific businesses and government agencies to maintain transparency and disclose their activities to the public. More on this to soon follow.
When asked to speak on record, however, few members of the community were inclined to be quoted. They are often neighbors, former classmates. A few said they worried about retaliation. Others simply do not want to speak about the men and women they've known for years, especially on a topic they feel they know little about. Much of the information they've seen or heard has come from Facebook interactions, where the line between fact and fiction is easily blurred. “I support and respect Deputy Jones, as well as my neighbors on the Ohio board,” one Indiana resident said; “In a situation like this, where social media rules the narrative instead of face-to-face problem solving, everyone loses.”
Union County Sheriff Dale Dishmond has been in his position for 27 years and has lived in the area his whole life. While he was not consulted about the change, he acknowledges that contractually his department has no say. They will continue to patrol College Corner and be a presence in and around the school. What is unfortunate, he said, is to lose such an asset to the community. “I think it was a poor decision,” Sheriff Dishmond said. “You've got a guy…who has a good rapport with the community, and that really helped us out. I think it was bad judgment to pull him out of the area, after all these years of building relationships. That's our job, as officers–to build rapport with the community.”
Jones has served his country and community for many years and will continue to do so. As for his role in College Corner, it would be hard not to love a place that outpours such support. “There's nothing I want more than to have this continue until I retire,” he once read aloud from a letter to the council in Fall of 2021. “...I'm not saying that I'm the world's greatest deputy by no stretch, but what I am saying is that you will never find a deputy that cares more or knows more about the citizens of College Corner than I do. Having the privilege to work in the area we live in has been a great experience, and I pray our arrangement continues for years and years to come.”
At the time of this publication, the fact stands: Deputy Jones won't be patrolling College Corner, or in Union County schools, or responding to his neighbors' late-night emergencies. At least not in the capacity they'd grown accustomed to. While questions and emotions linger, the community moves forward, and will soon enjoy their locally beloved Trick-or-Trick night together, like they always do.
Meanwhile, the signs are still there.
This is a developing story.
*Ohio Revised Code 149.43 is known as the Ohio Public Records Act or the "Sunshine Laws." ORC 149.43 requires that public meetings be open to the public, that public records be open and available to the public and that public records be maintained in such a manner that they will be available to the public upon request.
*Mayor's Statement: https://villageofcollegecorner.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Statement-from-Mayor-8-31-22forwebsite.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1huovJwZG2S_4hvK9RwdyY8m_MRrZyjce3my9K9ac_CkDvcSC8BsHRn1s
According to public records, an email was sent from the Village of College Corner Council's attorney Traci Combs-Valerio on Aug. 4, 2022, to Butler County Sheriff's Office stating in part, “Also, the council does not want Deputy Jones as their deputy any longer. I will be meeting with them next week to go over their issues and I will reach back out to you if a meeting is nexessary (sic) regarding the other issues we spoke about yesterday.”
On Aug. 22, another email was sent to BCSO “Sergeant Poff: I have been advised by the Village of College Corner to ask you to please remove Deputy Ryan Jones from patrolling/working in College Corner until another Deputy becomes available. Please advise. Thanks.”
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Driving through the small community of College Corner in October, one might expect to see the usual seasonal fare along with signs promoting upcoming November elections. This year, however, it is difficult to miss the many signs reading “We Support Deputy Ryan Jones” decorating the lawns. The town square displays a large banner showing the same support, as have homes and businesses on both the Ohio and Indiana sides, for more than a month.
A close-knit community, College Corner straddles the state line between Ohio and Indiana. The elementary school in town is College Corner Union School, in one of only two remaining “interstate districts” in the United States. The state line literally runs through the school's gymnasium, with West College Corner (Ind.) on one side and College Corner (Ohio) on the other.
It was in this community that Ryan Jones served as deputy for the past 14 years, through a contract with the Butler County (Ohio) Sheriff's Department, which included areas in Butler, Preble County (Ohio) and Union County (Ind.). While Jones is still employed by Butler County, his contract with College Corner was not renewed. Supporters of Jones, who feel the decision was made without the public's knowledge or input, reacted immediately to the news.
The debate went to Facebook, where it has been played out publicly by all sides. In town, signs began to go up, and a large community gathering was held, showing support for Jones and his family. Citizen groups began to circulate the results of their own public records requests online. From there, accusations flew. Some called Jones' removal “the straw that broke the camel's back” and say it's just “the tip of the iceberg.” Old arguments and words like “nepotism” resurfaced – words that hold real meaning in a governmental context – as did long-standing questions about water/sewer, distribution of finances, council structure and access to public meetings and records.
On Aug. 31, Mayor Jim Jackson responded online to what he deemed “misinformation” in a statement, “Responses from the Village of College Corner Mayor regarding Topics put forward on the College Corner Talk Facebook Group.” In it, Jackson addressed several issues, including the replacement of Deputy Jones:
“The Village of College Corner has had a contract with the Butler County Sheriff's Department since 1996. When the Police Contract was due for its annual renewal, the council wanted to amend it going forward. The Council wanted the contract to reflect concerns they had over the hours worked by the current assigned deputy in the Village of College Corner, Ohio. Specifically asking the deputy to flex his hours to reflect hours worked other than 5:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., daily.”
The statement is linked in full below and goes on to say that since “the deputy was not willing to comply with the Council's requests, they decided to move forward in a different direction to better serve the community.” Residents quickly began to respond that his daytime availability at their children's elementary school was what would be missed most.
A civil action was filed against the Village of College Corner, according to the Facebook group “Fix Your Budget, College Corner”, along with five members of the council, citing violations of the Ohio Public Meetings Act. The council is accused of illegally using executive sessions, part of what's known as the Sunshine Laws. These laws require specific businesses and government agencies to maintain transparency and disclose their activities to the public. More on this to soon follow.
When asked to speak on record, however, few members of the community were inclined to be quoted. They are often neighbors, former classmates. A few said they worried about retaliation. Others simply do not want to speak about the men and women they've known for years, especially on a topic they feel they know little about. Much of the information they've seen or heard has come from Facebook interactions, where the line between fact and fiction is easily blurred. “I support and respect Deputy Jones, as well as my neighbors on the Ohio board,” one Indiana resident said; “In a situation like this, where social media rules the narrative instead of face-to-face problem solving, everyone loses.”
Union County Sheriff Dale Dishmond has been in his position for 27 years and has lived in the area his whole life. While he was not consulted about the change, he acknowledges that contractually his department has no say. They will continue to patrol College Corner and be a presence in and around the school. What is unfortunate, he said, is to lose such an asset to the community. “I think it was a poor decision,” Sheriff Dishmond said. “You've got a guy…who has a good rapport with the community, and that really helped us out. I think it was bad judgment to pull him out of the area, after all these years of building relationships. That's our job, as officers–to build rapport with the community.”
Jones has served his country and community for many years and will continue to do so. As for his role in College Corner, it would be hard not to love a place that outpours such support. “There's nothing I want more than to have this continue until I retire,” he once read aloud from a letter to the council in Fall of 2021. “...I'm not saying that I'm the world's greatest deputy by no stretch, but what I am saying is that you will never find a deputy that cares more or knows more about the citizens of College Corner than I do. Having the privilege to work in the area we live in has been a great experience, and I pray our arrangement continues for years and years to come.”
At the time of this publication, the fact stands: Deputy Jones won't be patrolling College Corner, or in Union County schools, or responding to his neighbors' late-night emergencies. At least not in the capacity they'd grown accustomed to. While questions and emotions linger, the community moves forward, and will soon enjoy their locally beloved Trick-or-Trick night together, like they always do.
Meanwhile, the signs are still there.
This is a developing story.
*Ohio Revised Code 149.43 is known as the Ohio Public Records Act or the "Sunshine Laws." ORC 149.43 requires that public meetings be open to the public, that public records be open and available to the public and that public records be maintained in such a manner that they will be available to the public upon request.
*Mayor's Statement: https://villageofcollegecorner.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Statement-from-Mayor-8-31-22forwebsite.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1huovJwZG2S_4hvK9RwdyY8m_MRrZyjce3my9K9ac_CkDvcSC8BsHRn1s
According to public records, an email was sent from the Village of College Corner Council's attorney Traci Combs-Valerio on Aug. 4, 2022, to Butler County Sheriff's Office stating in part, “Also, the council does not want Deputy Jones as their deputy any longer. I will be meeting with them next week to go over their issues and I will reach back out to you if a meeting is nexessary (sic) regarding the other issues we spoke about yesterday.”
On Aug. 22, another email was sent to BCSO “Sergeant Poff: I have been advised by the Village of College Corner to ask you to please remove Deputy Ryan Jones from patrolling/working in College Corner until another Deputy becomes available. Please advise. Thanks.”