Part of the findings of an outside investigation into a trip to China taken by four City of Ypsilanti officials has been released.
Over 1,500 pages of documents, emails text messages and photographs as well as some 20 hours of sworn testimony were collected by independent attorney Ed Plato. Since those documents were given to Ypsilanti city officials, city economic development director Beth Ernat no longer works for the city. Her contract was not renewed.
City attorney John Barr says, once he receives all the information from the investigation, some other form of action may be necessary.
“It wont be over until I get the full report, and then I’ll make recommendations to city council, and they’ll make their own decisions,” says Barr.
Ernat, mayor Amanda Edmonds, mayor pro-tem Nicole Brown, and police chief Tony DeGiustiwere being investigated for taking a trip to china worth $40,000 apparently paid for by a developer hoping to build an international village on the contaminated Water Street property in Ypsilanti.
Nicole Brown was not interviewed, because it is believed she had no involvement in the trip’s arrangements and was provided information as needed.
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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu
