Update: Bricker Graydon requests an extension for Etna of time for seven days. Jon Hanson opposes agreeing to a max of three. The judge grants an order for a 5-day extension for the Township.
https://etnatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-00243PQ-MOTION-FOR-EXTENSION-OF-TIME-2.pdf
https://etnatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-00243PQ-PQ-Hanson-Requesters-Opposition-1.pdf
https://etnatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-00243PQ-PQ-ENTRYORDER-JOURNALIZED-1.pdf
Below you will find links to view or download the public records case Trustee Evans is currently ranting about on Facebook. Like everything involving Trustee Evans, the case is long, boring, and unnecessary. For Mr. Evans, this is just another opportunity to create chaos in his election-year desperation to seem relevant to Etna Township voters. The first pdf is the latest motion. The second is 51 pages of the complaint and evidence. The third is the initial process or complaint form. There is an image of the index below also for the 12 record requests.
Quick summary, Jon Hanson, Etna May 30, 2025:
Public Records Requests
- Jon Hanson submitted twelve public records requests between May 24, 2024, and December 20, 2024.
- Most requests were acknowledged only on January 16, 2025, despite follow-up emails and public comments.
- Requests included communications related to zoning violations, audio and video recordings, and text messages between trustees or other parties.
- Specific requests for video recordings of meetings and executive sessions were made, with no responses received.
- Trustee Mark Evans was noted to have recordings that were not produced, despite claims they are public records. He claims to have destroyed these records (May 20th meeting) and we had an email from the prosecutor saying as much.
Communication with Township Officials
- Jon Hanson met with Township Administrator Susan Bedsole on November 29, 2024, to confirm receipt of requests.
- Follow-up emails were sent on multiple occasions, including December 16, 20, and January 7, 2025.
- Trustee Evans responded to some inquiries but often criticized Hanson’s requests as vague or overly broad (in emails, not the court).
- There were claims of delays by Evans in processing requests due to seeking legal opinions.
Lack of Response and Resolution Efforts
- Before filing the court action, and despite numerous requests, no records were produced, and no legitimate denials or exemptions were applied.
- Hanson expressed a willingness to receive records on a rolling basis to ease the burden on township employees.
- The document includes a table of contents listing all requests and related documents for reference (image below);
- The desire to resolve the matter amicably and obtain the requested records was emphasized throughout the document.
- Hanson agreed to move to mediation from the court after some requests were fulfilled.
- After the prosecutor quit (perhaps all of Licking County is tired of the Etna Township drama), Hanson filed a motion to move from mediation back to the court. Both motions to allow the prosecutor to withdraw and to move the case back to the court were granted. (1st pdf)
The latest Order of the Court granting Hanson’s and the Prosecutor’s motion. https://etnatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-00243PQ-ORDER-Jon-Hanson-v.-Etna-Township-ORDER-ISSUED-5-29-25.pdf
https://etnatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-00243PQ-Public-Records-Complaint-Form1.pdf This is the initial complaint.
