UPDATED: County Taxpayers Foot The Bill For County Employee Stays At Vegas Casinos, Michigan Resorts & Other Luxury Lodgings

Please note: This article was updated with a quote from Sheriff Jerry Clayton’s Executive Assistant, Katherine Wyatt.

AN ANALYSIS OF credit card charges made by Washtenaw County employees between 2012 and 2014 shows multiple charges for luxury lodging, meals out and even a $1,600 trip to the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas charged by Greg Dill, the county’s infrastructure management director who earns $101,000 per year.

In 2005, Mr. Dill took a $52,000 buy-out from Washtenaw County and then hired on as the Oak Park Public Schools chief of staff. The Detroit News reported in 2008 that Dill was placed on paid administrative leave and asked to resign from his job “after having a private shower facility and luxury gym built at the Oak Park Preparatory Academy.” The room included showers, tile floors, cherry cabinets, a luxury gym and a big screen television. Dill said he paid for the renovations with his own money and that some of the items were added by the contractors without his knowledge. In 2008, he was re-hired by Washtenaw County.

Mr. Dill was not the only county employee to charge stays at Las Vegas casinos to county credit cards. Patricia Denig a county Planning and Operations Director earns $108,000 per year. She works in the Employment, Training and Community Services Department (ETCS). On May 1, 2012 Denig charged a $1,200 airplane ticket to Miramar, Florida, on May 2, 2012 racked up three $201 charges at the South Point Hotel Casino and Spa in Las Vegas and on May 3, 2012 charged a $468 ticket to Miramar, Florida.

Mechelle Hardy is a management assistant in the county’s Information Technology Department. Hardy earns $54,500 per year. Between November 20-25, 2013 credit card records indicate Hardy made multiple purchases at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Hardy charged one cab ride on November 20 and another on November 25. She purchased meals and Starbuck’s at the Luxor Hotel and Casino on November 20, 22 and 25. Credit card records show Hardy purchased airplane tickets on Delta Airlines on November 18 ($25 and $50 charges), November 21 ($25 charge), November 22 ($100 charge, which was refused by county officials). On November 25, Hardy used her county credit card to pay $125 to Metro Airport Parking.

On February 3, 2014 Hardy used her county credit card to pay for two $330 charges at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. On February 6, 2014 county officials refused one of the two $330 charges.

Dale Vanderford is a county Information Technology manager who earns $88,000 per year. Between August 26 and September 1, 2011 Vanderford charged $200 to his county credit card at the Luxor Hotel and Casino and $765 on September 1, 2011 for charges at the Venetian Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas, described as a “five diamond Las Vegas resort.” In total, Vanderford charged $1577.34 to Las Vegas hotels and restaurants in 2011.

Other charges for hotels, resorts and luxury lodging include two charges for $946 paid to the Boston Plaza Hotel on September 9, 2013 by a management assistant in the Washtenaw County Mental Health Department.

Fleet Services Inspector Robert Mossing, who earns $71,000, charged $771 for a stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Denver, Colorado in June 2012 and $929 for a stay at a Hilton hotel in June 2013. Between June 26, 2013 and August 26, 2013 Washtenaw County employees racked up $2,504 worth of charges at Michigan’s Crystal Mountain Resort.  Drain Comissioner Evan Pratt, who earns $100,000, charged taxpayers for stays at the Crystal Mountain resort in both June and July 2013. Water Resources Senior Environmental Manager Harry Sheehan stayed at the resort in June and July 2013, as well. Four months later, Sheehan charged taxpayers for a $938 stay at a Hyatt hotel.

On August 1, 2013, Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton’s Executive Assistant Katherine Wyatt used her county credit card to pay for a $712 charge at the Four Seasons Hotels. Wyatt said she paid for the stay “on behalf of someone else.” When asked who that person was, Ms. Wyatt said, “It was a charge for a training event.” Ms. Wyatt then suggested that Washtenaw Sheriff Jerry Clayton would be better able to answer questions about such credit card charges.

Records show that Susan Shipley, a county Accountant & Operations Supervisor charged $938 to her credit card twice in one day for charges at the Hampton Inn Hotels.

County staffers have stayed at Hilton hotels across the country including the Hilton in New Orleans, Washington, DC, Cinncinati, Columbus, Ohio and Charlotte, North Carolina. Between 2011 and 2013, Washtenaw County employees charged over $10,200 to their credit cards for charges at Hilton hotels.

Likewise, staffers have enjoyed numerous stays at Hyatt hotels across the county. Between 2012-2014 staff have charged $7,535 to their county-issued credit cards for stays and meals at Hyatt hotels.

Washtenaw County employee credit card receipts reveal charges at the Mission Point Resort, Grand Traverse and Shanty Creek Resorts, the Cadillac Sands Resort and the Marsh Ridge Resort in Gaylord, Michigan.

While  Washtenaw County managers enjoy expensive stays  at fine hotels, resorts and casinos, most county employees’ credit card receipts revealed purchases pertinent to their jobs. There were dozens of charges for materials purchased at the local Ace Barnes Hardware store by Parks & Recreation employees and charges for hotels and short-term stay apartments made by employees who work for the county’s Veteran’s Services Department.