Platte County’s director of facilities has been charged with stealing after admitting to investigators that he had purchased several personal items with county funds.
Kenneth M. Bozenhardt, 54, allegedly spent nearly 15 months using the county’s credit card and business account for personal use, according to Platte County prosecuting attorney, Eric Zahnd.
Suspicious purchases include supplies to build a beer garden at Bozenhardt’s home, a welder, tool cabinet, a lawn mower and alcohol.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said his office filed the stealing charge on August 6 after an investigation by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department.
In 2015, Bozenhardt allegedly purchased a welder and tool cabinet using the county's business account at Home Depot on two separate occasions. Both times, county facilities employees indicated that they did not make those purchases for their department.
According to Zahnd, individual purchases continued in 2016. The purchases included things such as a Toro lawn mower, 10-foot cedar posts, 12-foot cedar boards, potting planters, potting pebbles, a watering can, flags, flag holders, and sun screen material. At least some of the items were purchased on a Sunday, which county facilities employees said would be outside normal business practices.
In July 2016, Bozenhardt allegedly purchased Sailor Jerry Rum at a local gas station using the county’s credit card. Court documents also state that Bozenhardt admitted taking $200 in 2016 after scrapping materials from maintenance jobs around county facilities.
Bozenhardt allegedly told investigators he had used the items for the construction and decoration of his beer garden at his home. County employees told investigators Bozenhardt had bragged that he used the sun shade purchased with county funds for that beer garden.
Invoices for all of the items had been paid by County Commissioners. County procedures require signatures of at least two commissioners before any payment requisition is paid.
On Monday, the Platte County Commissioners and Auditor Kevin Robinson declined comment on the story.
However, people around town said they were frustrated another county leader was at the center of controversy.
In late May, Platte County Treasurer Rob Willard lost around $48,000 in taxpayer money after falling for an email spoof scam.
After two incidents involving county leaders losing or spending taxpayer money, Platte County residents say they’ve had enough.
"That's ridiculous," said Phyllis Miller, who was eating at Pool Hall on Monday afternoon. "You don't use taxpayer dollars to build a beer garden. That is horrible and it's unacceptable."
Others, like Matthew Lambino, questioned the trust in Platte County leaders.
"To think someone would misappropriate the county funds for his own personal use, that's just wrong," he said.
Zahnd is asking the court to appoint a special prosecutor to handle the case.
Judge James Van Amburg set bond in the case at $2,000. If convicted of stealing, Bozenhardt faces up to seven years in prison.
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