East Central Reporter

During the June 2024 Indianola Village Board meeting, then-Mayor Thomas Gooch admitted he rented a skid steer in the name of the village, purportedly for village use, and that he also used that skid steer at his personal residence for around a half day.

He also admitted the village board did not authorize renting the skid steer. This debt was around $600.

When the board asked how they would get reimbursed, then-Mayor Gooch said, "I guess I’ll have to pay it."

With those admissions, the board declined to approve payment of the invoice, even though it was already paid, and asked the Mayor to reimburse the village.

Instead of reimbursing the village for the entire amount, Gooch resigned from office. There is no evidence at this time that he has reimbursed the village for more than half of the amount incurred. He apparently thinks the village should pay for the other half where the skid steer was used for the village even though its rental was never authorized by the board.

The fact remains: a debt was incurred by the former Mayor without board approval. The debt has an appearance of being incurred for private use – at least in part – and thus, former Mayor Gooch should be held responsible for reimbursing the village for this incurred debt.