GALENA, Kan. (AP) Cherokee County spent about $28,000 on a grand jury investigation that led to charges that were ultimately dismissed.
The county budgeted $50,000 for the investigation in 2015 after opponents of plans to build a landfill in Riverton petitioned for the investigation. Another $50,000 was set aside in the 2016 budget before the charges against the Galena officials were dismissed.
The Joplin Globe reports the Galena mayor and six current or former Galena City Council members were indicted on a misuse of public funds charges. The charges were dismissed in September.
A petition seeking the grand jury probe was started by opponents of the Galena council’s 2014 plan to establish a landfill in Riverton.
The county spent about $28,306 on fees for lawyers and others during the grand jury investigation.
