Allegations of corruption in Kent County

KENT COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A tip of possible corruption has gotten the attention of police in Kent County and has led them to raid the offices of the Grattan Township board.

The details are slowly emerging Wednesday as the story develops.

Details surrounding the case are still very unclear and board members that Newschannel 3 spoke to on Wednesday night were very guarded in their statements. What we do know is that there are allegations that the Grattan Township board violated the open meetings act and that the Kent County Sheriff's office served a search warrant at the township building. Officers seized several computers, hoping to find information.

The allegations are that Grattan Township board members made decisions behind closed doors. Decisions that affect the township and decisions that the public wasn't let in on, as is required by the open meetings act.

There are five board members; Treasurer Sabrina Freeman, Trustee Dennis Heffron and Trustee Paul Knoerl, but sources told Newschannel 3 that the investigation is circling around Township Supervisor Franklin Force and Clerk Jim Fues.

Newschannel 3 called all of them for comment and went to what we believe to be Supervisor Force's home, but got no answer.

We did get in touch with Trustee Dennis Heffron, he says the allegations revolve around a special meeting that took place in late December or early January. We went to the township website to search for the minutes of that meeting but were unable to confirm which meeting it was.

While on the phone, Heffron did say the meeting involved township engineers and water treatment.

Heffron also said "I am not aware of anything that would substantiate allegations against our supervisor and clerk. I await the Kent County Sheriff's findings."

It is still very early in the investigation and a lot of information is still coming to light. Newschannel 3 will follow up with the Kent County Sheriff's investigation and update the story as more information becomes available.