BEAVER — State police have interviewed Beaver County Chief Assessor Kevin McIlwain in connection with an investigation into something unrelated to county employee or courthouse business, assistant solicitor Nate Morgan confirmed Wednesday at a commissioners work session.
“It was related to an outside matter,” Morgan said.
The news took Commissioner Sandie Egley by surprise.
“Why am I not aware of this? I would like to have had that discussion before someone would say something publicly,” Egley said after the matter was raised by blogger John Paul Vranesevich.
Vranesevich asked if the commissioners were aware that McIlwain had been interviewed and if the board had been consulted prior to the interview.
McIlwain notified the county’s law department about it, Morgan said.
No one would specify exactly what the investigation regarded or when the interview took place. State police didn’t return messages seeking comment.
Morgan said that McIlwain was asked to explain procedures the assessment office follows and that "no one employed by the county is the subject of any investigation."
Beyond that, the matter is another example of the commissioners not communicating with each other, Egley said.
“I was surprised that I was out of the loop. It’s not the first time,” Egley said after the meeting, echoing statements she directed at Morgan and solicitor Garen Fedeles about being kept in the dark about county issues.
“I’ve have that conversation with you,” she told them.
After the meeting, Egley said she reiterated to her colleagues that she needs “to be included in what happens in the county.”
“I hope it’s clear now,” Egley said.
She wouldn't specify other instances that she's been excluded from county business.