It appears that the Tipp City Council has lost their direction in their discussion concerning Mr. Kessler and his tax issue. I for one believe there needs to be an investigation of the Tipp City Tax Department. It is fact that Mr. Kessler is a failed businessman. This does not make him unfit to be President of Council not paying his taxes to the City of Tipp City until it became public knowledge makes him unfit to be President of City Council. Mr. Kessler voting to raise our taxes when he had past due taxes to the Tipp City makes him unfit to be President of Council. He is a very poor example to the current and potential businesses that would relocate to Tipp City. Mr. McDermott, Mr. Hale and Mrs. Gillis do not see it that way because of their own political biases. It is clear that Mr. Kessler, his business Tour Great Miami LLC which published he Tipp Independent Voice, withheld taxes from his employees for the City of Tipp City around 2007. It appears that Mr. Kessler was well aware of the fact he owed taxes to Tipp City by the letters written to him by Mr. Black and Mr. Woody, his former employees. In a letter dated January 17, 2012 from John Skolnicki, income tax supervisor for the Tipp City, to John Kessler states ‘In the past few years we have mailed statements and tax packets for the Tour Great Miami LLC (TGM) withholding account and net profit account to 135 East Main Street Suite 202, Tipp City, Ohio 45371, your former business address evidently the statements did not get to you personally.’ What I do not understand is that Mr. Skolnicki knew where Mr. Kessler would be twice every month, right in front of him at the city council meeting yet he did not give him these statements and tax packets for five years until it became public knowledge. I understand that Mr. Kessler was not the sole owner of this business but was the publisher, caretaker of the money, and CEO. Mr. Skolnicki goes on to state in his letter ‘If you pay to the Tipp City Department of taxation by Tuesday, February 21, 2012, we will waive additional penalties and interest on your 2007 Tipp City withholding taxes.’ Why would Mr. Skolnicki waive additional penalties and interest that Mr. Kessler owed to Tipp City? Is this a privilege given to all taxpayers of Tipp City or just President of Council? The city Law Director is correct that the council does not have the ability to investigate why Mr. Kessler’s business failed but they do have the ability to investigate the questions asked about the tax department in this case and see if it is wide spread. The issue of Mr. Kessler’s taxes for 2008 and 2009 have not been addressed either. I can not believe that Mr. McDermott is quoted to say that the only reason this is brought up is because of sour grapes over Mr. Gibson not becoming president of Council. As a Council they have a duty to the tax payers of the city to answer these questions about our tax department. I was a very vocal opponent a year ago of the McDermott Income Tax Increase that increased spending on capitol improvements by 250%. When Mr. McDermott ran for council he promised to be a good steward of the taxpayer’s money. Being a good steward also means the he would assure that all taxes are also collected and paid by everyone in the city that owes them and the tax department is doing their job to the best of their ability. Mr. Skolnicki had no problem auditing my tax return last year less than a month after the election and my opposition to the tax increase. This city council needs to step up and do what is right for the tax paying citizens of this city and stop the political rhetoric and personal dislikes on council.
Steve Huffman
Tipp City, Ohio
