TIFFIN, Ohio — Seneca County commissioners are adding a new twist to a longstanding transparency dispute by refusing to renew the contract of media relations contractor Sheri Trusty—a decision that comes as the county faces mounting questions over its hiring practices and public records compliance.
At a Tuesday meeting, a motion to renew Trusty’s contract with a $6,500 raise failed to secure a second, effectively ending her tenure with the county. Trusty, who was contracted in 2024, said she had expected the renewal based on assurances tied to the approval of a new media communications policy on Feb. 6.
“I came here today to address the issue of my no longer working here,” Trusty said. “Over and over again in the past few months, promises were made to me and then things changed.”
She contended that the renewal was contingent on the policy’s definition of her duties and noted that County Administrator Barb Patterson had promised she would be offered a contract, a promise that was never fulfilled.
“[Patterson] told me she had added wording to the policy that she said had to be in there,” Trusty claimed. “As it turns out, the wording she added has the potential to damage my professional reputation. Accepting the contract based on the policy she handed me was my only option, although I was originally asked to help create the policy.”
Trusty’s case is not without precedent. Last year, she became a lightning rod for controversy after publishing an article on the county’s website that sharply criticized Advertiser-Tribune journalist Kayla Trevino.
Trevino had been investigating Commissioner Bill Frankart’s personal child custody dispute—a case further complicated by Frankart’s son’s conviction on sexual assault charges.
The contentious article, viewed by many as a misuse of county resources for political ends, was quickly removed amid public outcry.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioner Bill Frankart, who had moved to offer Trusty the contract with the requested raise, maintained that the Feb. 6 vote was on the renewal. However, Commissioners Paradiso and Brent Busdecker, along with Patterson, contended that the vote pertained solely to the new media policy.
“That is not how I took that conversation,” Patterson said during the meeting. Frankart replied, “That’s how it was presented to you, Barb.” At that point, Commissioners Paradiso and Busdecker interjected in support of Patterson as Frankart continued to badger her. “I’m not going to debate this in public,” Patterson said.
The controversy is compounded by prior concerns over the county’s recordkeeping practices. A public records request last year sought documentation on Trusty’s hiring process—including details on her $26,000 salary, contract vetting, and job responsibilities—but county officials later stated these decisions were made verbally, a practice that critics say flouts Ohio’s Public Records Act.
With Tuesday’s vote stalling Trusty’s contract renewal, Seneca County now faces the prospect of not only finding a new media relations coordinator but also addressing lingering questions about transparency and accountability in its hiring practices.
You can watch the full Seneca County Board of Commissioners meeting on YouTube at this link.
