The Village of Lakeview is in the midst of significant upheaval as a lawsuit filed by 143 residents against Mayor Elaine Fagan-Moore has captured local attention. The lawsuit, which aims to remove Fagan-Moore from office, accuses her of neglecting her duties and violating state laws since she began her term in January 2024.
The main allegations center on Fagan-Moore’s handling of the Lakeview Fire Department following the tornado that struck on March 14, 2024. The lawsuit claims her decisions during the crisis complicated disaster relief efforts, leading to poor management within the fire department. This mismanagement is said to have caused increased insurance rates and delayed emergency response times. Furthermore, the suit alleges that Fagan-Moore excluded the public from critical meetings, failed to adhere to open meeting laws, and fostered a hostile work environment for firefighters.
Attorney Tim Steinhelfer, representing the residents, argues that the lawsuit is warranted under a seldom-used Ohio law.
At the Village Council’s first regular session since the lawsuit was filed, proceedings proceeded as usual. During the public participation segment, resident Traci Gentis voiced her concerns about taxpayer money being used to fund the mayor’s legal representation.
In response, newly hired village solicitor Daniel Bey from Urbana addressed Gentis and other attendees:
Additionally, Councilman Terry Brentlinger announced his resignation during the meeting due to an address change out of the village.
After the meeting, Council President Randy Kaehler made comments regarding the ongoing situation:
The lawsuit is set to be heard in Logan County Court on Friday, August 30th, at 1:30 PM, marking a pivotal moment in the village’s ongoing political strife.
