Three Preble County employees were fired and the director of the county landfill resigned after an internal investigation found they were taking cash from people dumping trash and dropping it into a “pop fund” coffee can under the counter. The money was then used for office parties.

Investigative records, obtained by the Dayton Daily News using Ohio’s public records laws, say it’s unclear how much money was misappropriated or how long the practice was going on, though it was likely for “several years.”

Though some of the employees admitted to misappropriating the funds, Preble County Prosecutor Martin Votel said criminal charges won’t be filed because the details are unclear. The employees were fired mainly for not cooperating with investigators, according to county records.

“The nature of the conduct down there was such that we could never substantiate how much was taken or by whom or when,” Votel said. “It was a thorough investigation and ultimately they either got to the bottom of the matter and found the truth or they fired the people who wouldn’t be truthful about what happened here.”

The investigation began when county officials questioned landfill account clerk Stacy Neff about a missing pay-in. In response, she wrote a seven-page letter full of wide-ranging allegations, many of which were unsubstantiated, having to do with a supervisor having an inappropriate relationship with her adult daughter as well as widespread misuse of county resources.

Neff explained how the “pop fund” worked: When a customer didn’t want a receipt, they would sit that receipt aside and give it to the next customer and take that customer’s money and drop it in a coffee can under the counter. She also wrote that the drawer was over up to $30 a night and that money was placed in the can.

The “pop fund” was used to pay for pizza, bowling trips, ice cream, birthday cakes, cookouts and more, Neff wrote. There was no accounting of how much was there and how it was spent.

“Obviously the biggest concern is using taxpayer dollars that paid for a service for something other than the operation or service of the landfill,” Commission President Chris Day told the Daily News.

The county prosecutor’s office worked with consultant Clemans Nelson and Associates – which was paid more than $4,000 – for two weeks interviewing those involved.

Landfill director John Jones, who Neff wrote oversaw the “pop fund,” denied doing anything wrong but resigned when asked to do a lie detector test. His resignation letter said he was leaving “so that I may pursue other career opportunities.”

Jones had worked for the county since 2001 and was promoted to run the landfill in 2010. He resigned making $55,182 a year.

Solid Waste Coordinator Latisha Plaugher typed up Neff’s letter for her, but denied knowledge of the letter when asked about it. She was fired for lying to investigators. She made $33,779 a year.

“I am extremely sorry that I wasn’t completely truthful at the time,” she told commissioners at the Nov. 7 hearing where she, Neff and part-time account clerk Jeffery Howard were terminated.

Howard – who started his own “pop fund” at some point — told commissioners he did what he was told to do, “but, you know, I see where that it was wrong and I accept whatever consequences are due my way.” He was fired. He made up to $11.88 per hour.

Neff was fired because she was told not to tell anyone about the investigation, but told Plaugher about it, according to commissioners.

“I applaud her for bringing these allegations to light,” Day said in the meeting before terminating Neff. “I want to make sure, on the record, that this was nothing against the complaint. This is against the employee’s actions after the investigation started.”

Neff worked part time for $11.37 per hour.

Account clerk Kim McGuire was suspended for three days. Investigative records say she knew of the “pop fund” but denied directing public money into it and no evidence was found to the contrary.

The Preble County landfill has an annual budget of roughly $2.9 million. Ten people work there, as well as Plaugher and one other worker in the solid waste department.

Preble County residents dining in downtown Eaton on Wednesday afternoon generally expressed frustration that county employees allegedly got away with misappropriating funds for so long and now won’t be charged with anything.

“To me it’s like theft,” said Terry Hodapp of Eaton. “The money’s not being used for what it’s supposed to be used for.”