Knoble resigns office after sentencing
By Jennifer Mitchell
Rocky River
Published June 14, 2006

Charged with misdemeanors for hiring two relatives at the Rocky River sewage plant, Mayor William Knoble entered into a plea deal Friday requiring him to resign his elected post.

By charter, Pamela Bobst, City Council president, is serving as interim mayor for up to 60 days or until council permanently appoints her or another to fill the remainder of Knoble’s two-year term, which ends in 2008.

The Ohio Ethics Commission recommended charges against Knoble following an investigation by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office of him and Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough. Both men served on the wastewater treatment plant’s management board and each also had relatives employed there. Knoble hired his son, Kurt, in 2005 and his brother, Garrett, in 2002.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Peter Corrigan sentenced Knoble on two counts of improper use of a public office. Charges could have included up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine and/or probation.

Corrigan suspended the jail sentence, ordered Knoble to pay a $500 fine, and make a one-time visit Friday with a probation officer.

As part of Knoble’s guilty plea Friday, his relatives also submitted resignations at the plant.

Paul Soucie, assistant county prosecutor, recommended that Corrigan go easy in sentencing.

“The state has no reason to ever question any of his other behaviors in public service,” Soucie said.

The prosecutor added that according to accounts from employers of Knoble’s relatives, both always did the job they were paid for.

Clough has five relatives at the plant.  That issue is part of an ongoing investigation. As part of Knoble’s plea deal, Corrigan said Knoble must cooperate.

Knoble’s attorney, Michael Murman, preceded Soucie in asking for leniency.

“He has never attempted to hide his conduct or deny it in anyway,” Murman said. “Everything was done wide open. He’s been completely guileless in this matter.”

Knoble, who had served the city as an elected official for more than 30 years, spent a majority of that time as a councilman and had no municipal administrative experience. He was appointed by the council in 2001 to lead the city following the death of then Mayor Don Umerley.

Prior to sentencing, Knoble said it had been his privilege to serve the public. He also apologized to residents of the city for any embarrassment the case had caused.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor William Mason has been accused of committing the same hiring violations as Knoble, but Mason said the situations recently reported are not the same.

Scene magazine published “Friends and Family Plan: The county prosecutor gets tough on nepotism, but ignores it in his own back yard” in its May 31-June 6 edition.

Writer Jared Klaus said Mason, elected in 1991 as a Parma councilman “secured a choice job for his brother, Michael, as a city tax commissioner” soon after.

Though Mason’s brother is an employee of that city, the prosecutor said someone didn’t check the “facts.”

“They are not accurate at all,” Mason said. “He began working around 10 or 11 months before I got elected.” Mason took office in 1992.

The Scene article also said that until 2004, Mason’s niece, Kim Kowalski, was in charge of his public relations.

Mason doesn’t deny it. However, he said it’s not against the law. State statute forbids public officials from hiring sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and also any relatives living in the same household. Kowalski met none of those criteria, Mason said.

In following through with the prosecution of Knoble, Mason said he was only doing what he had to.

“Everybody tells me he’s a great guy, and I am sure he is,” Mason said. “The ethics commission came to me and said he had hired his son, which in Ohio is a felony.”

Though Mason said Thursday the investigation of Clough was near its end, until it’s over, he can’t comment on it.

Corrigan had a few personal remarks before wrapping up Knoble’s case Friday.

“This is a sad day for the city of Rocky River,” the judge, who also is a resident, said. “You served the city for a long time.”

Corrigan then wished Knoble and his family “the best of luck.”

Bay Village Mayor Debbie Sutherland, president of the Cuyahoga Mayors and Managers Association, served with Knoble on the wastewater treatment plant board.

“It’s unfortunate for the city of Rocky River that a tragedy like this had had to happen,” Sutherland said. “He has done many good things for his community and the area. I’ve enjoyed working with him in a number of areas and will miss him.”

Legislation is pending among the Rocky River City Council in regard to hiring policies within the municipality and at the sewage plant. While housed in Rocky River, the mayors of  Fairview Park, Rocky River, Bay Village and Westlake mayors of  comprise the utility’s board.