TRUMBULL COUNTY, OH - A report about Trumbull County taxpayer dollars for senior services raises concerns about billing, validity of signatures and the informal process of keeping records by the company Comfort Keepers.

The 52-pages suggest the sheriff's office further investigate the "possibility of fraud” related to billing for grass cutting and snow removal services.

The report created by Senior Levy Administrator Diane Jurkovic for the county commissioners suggests investigating invoices dating back to September of 2023.

“I do not agree with only holding payment for September and October as I feel additional investigation is needed and that is my recommendation,” the report states. “This contract began in September 2023 and could have additional dollars for recovery if found to have invoiced for services not provided prior to May 2025.”

The commissioners have had several public discussions on if they should pay for more recent services in the summer and winter of 2025 totaling more than $18,000 but have never openly discussed billing suspicions further back.

Questionings started when levy administrators called seniors who were supposed to have their grass cut by a subcontractor who was directed by Comfort Keepers. Of the calls made, 25 people had no complaints about the service but 33 did have issues all related to the contractor never showing up.

The report states when the senior levy administrator requested invoices for what the county was being billed for Comfort Keepers could not provide them because they were “hand-written on post-it notes.”

The report also questions if there is a valid contract for the services claiming a copy produced by Comfort Keepers President and CEO Dave Mirkin has a signature that does not match the signature of the subcontractor.

“Subcontractor reported having never signed any contract. Mirkin produced subcontract as supposedly signed by the subcontractor, but signature does not agree to Board of Elections signature of the subcontractor and is suspect,” the report states. 

Mirkin claims all services were done and denies being accused of fraud. He blamed the cognitive abilities of seniors for the miscommunications during a meeting last week.

“There's no fraud here. Fraud has to have intent. No one's proved anything,” he said. “Theirs no criminal act, theirs no nothing ever done in this.”

Days after that meeting 21 News presented Mirkin with the report to investigate the possibility of "fraud" and he had no comment. He has repeatedly said the county can keep the $18,000 but has not officially filed anything to solidify that forfeit with commissioners.

Trumbull County Sheriff Mike Wilson told 21 News detectives looked into the allegations against Comfort Keepers. 

“Our investigation was presented to the Trumbull County Prosecutors Office and they advised that there was not a level of information and facts to warrant criminal activity. However, they stated this may be a civil aspect potentially,” statement from Sheriff Wilson said. 

Comfort Keepers ended their chores services with Trumbull County on Monday due to the accusations. 

Comfort Keepers also collects Title III funds for other chores services in Trumbull County and in Mahoning County. They will be maintaining their services for transportation and home care with Trumbull County.

The full report can be found below: