The Miami County commissioners Thursday made their first public statement regarding the months’ long investigation into the county maintenance department that resulted this week in a one-year prison term for the former facilities director Jarrod Harrah.

The commission’s three-paragraph statement was issued as a press release from it’s office. Commissioners John “Bud” O’Brien, Jack Evans and Richard Cultice had declined comment since the department investigation was revealed in late May with suspensions of Harrah, his team leader Bruce Ball and three department employees.

“Jarrod Harrah’s sentence sends a message that public corruption will not be tolerated in Miami County. Abuse of public position and power will not go unpunished,” the commissioners said. “That being said, it is time to move forward in a positive direction.”

The statement indicated there were lessons learned from the investigation and changes already are being made.

Commissioners said they have begun implementing policies and procedures “to insure that inventory controls are in place to prevent any such future theft.” Measures being taken or planned include computerizing inventory control measures, reviewing and adopting best practices used by other counties and hiring experienced and professional replacement maintenance staff, the commission said.

Christopher Johnson, former business manager at the Milton Union schools in Miami County recently was hired as the new facilities and safety director. O’Brien said at the time of the hiring that Johnson would be more of an administrator for the department instead of hands on.

Harrah, 39, and Ball, 61, both resigned this summer. Harrah pleaded to theft in office, tampering with evidence and tampering with records. He was sentenced Monday to a year in prison, but the judge said he likely would be released earlier, will serve probation and was ordered to pay a $7,500 fine and just over $1,000 in restitution.

Ball pleaded to theft in office and was sentenced to probation and five days in jail. Two of the three staff members resigned near the end of the sheriff’s office investigation, while the third was reinstated to his job.