Time to clear the air about the Jackson Zoo. It's no secret that Yours Truly sits on the Board of Directors for the Jackson Zoological Society. The Society operates the Jackson Zoo. A certain weekly newspaper primarily known for publishing wedding photos made some rather scurrilous allegations about the Board.
It's been well-reported that former Executive Director Beth Poff resigned after it was discovered she misused state bond funds. However, the Northside Sun said she "took one for the team" and went on to say the Board approved and went along with the misuse of state funds. Well, it's time to report a little fact the Northside Sun knowingly omitted: The Kingfish blew the whistle on the Executive Director and reported the misuse of state funds to the State Auditor.
It was at first difficult to understand how things worked on the Zoo Board. Board members were required to sign a confidentiality agreement. Important matters were divided up between the Finance and Executive Committees. For example, the Executive Committee instead of the Board approved the budget. The actual Board took less than a half a dozen votes between my joining the Board in March 2017 and August 2018 when the Executive Director resigned.
Yours truly attended the June 2018 Board meeting. Someone mentioned the annual audit had been submitted to the Society. The auditor presented his annual report to only the Finance Committee in May. I requested a copy of the audit. An employee emailed it to me a few days later on June 22. Reporting on this website has taught me (the hard way) to read the auditor's notes in financial statements as that is where the "dirt" often is found. Sure enough, there it was, buried in Note 15:
JJ has covered enough bond issues to know that spending bond funds on other than the stated purpose of the bonds is a big, yuge no-no. The Kingfish talked to several people he respects over the weekend who are learned in such matters as well as legal counsel. He notified the State Auditor on Monday morning, June 25, 2018:
Upon performing compliance procedures, it was discovered that during the fiscal year 2017 the Zoo had spent $395,000 of these funds on operations. This is not in compliance with the agreement with the Department of Finance and Administration. The Zoo repaid the $395,000 to the Zoo Improvement Fund cash account in December 2017.
Dear Mr. Pickering:
As you know, I am a member of the Board of Directors for the Jackson Zoological Society. The Society has a lease to operate the Jackson Zoo for the City of Jackson. As a Board member, I have a fiduciary duty to inform you whenever I find instances of misspending of state funds by the employees of the Society.I attended the regular bi-monthly Board meeting on June 19, 2018 at the Jackson Zoo. One person mentioned that the annual audit was complete. I asked for a copy of the audit and received it Friday. The Jackson Zoo received $1 million in state bond money in 2016 under the "state bond bill." The money was to be used for a specific list of repairs and projects. Note 15 of the audit states:The Jackson Zoological Society entered into an agreement with the State of Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration to receive $1,000,000 in bond proceeds during fiscal 2016. This bond is to be spent on construction, repair, renovations, replacement and improvement of buildings, facilities, exhibits, and infrastructure at the Zoo. Upon performing compliance procedures, it was discovered that during the fiscal year 2017 the Zoo had spent $395,000 of these funds on operations. This is not in compliance with the agreement with the Department of Finance and Administration. The Zoo repaid the $395,000 to the Zoo Improvement Fund cash account in December 2017.The Board did not approve this use of the bond proceeds. The Board did not even have a vote on using these funds for operations. The Jackson Zoo is in serious financial trouble. The May 2018 financial statements show that the Zoo is operating at a $644,384 deficit. The Executive Director informed the Board last week that the Zoo would miss its next payroll. Thankfully a Board member provided a $15,000 loan on a 30 day note. The Executive Director was probably scrambling to keep the Zoo afloat and dipped into the bond proceeds.Although such desperation is understandable, it is still my duty to inform you of whenever the misuse of state funds takes place.
22 comments:
Checks and Balances - Good Job KF. A few other boards might could use you.
That the budget was sheltered from Board oversight by a committee does not pass the sniff test. Well done KF.
Odd organizational structure for a board, especially given the conditions of the zoo. Every member of that board better have an umbrella policy covering every single asset they own or ever plan to own. If not, they dumb.
Northside Sun = Fake News
Good point 10:22. The budget should be transparent to the board and attempts to deploy smoke and mirrors to prevent prying eyes reeks. The zoo leadership may have had good intentions and acted out of desperation but deceitful and dishonest behavior is not ok ESPECIALLY WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS! Good job KF.
It's very difficult to be accountable when you're broke and the bills are still coming due. The temptation to "Rob Peter to pay Paul" will touch even the most responsible officials, black or white, republican or democrat, whatever. That's when hard tough decisions have to be made and you hope that people like KF are around to make them rather than postponing the inevitable. It's not as easy as it sounds...
Why didn't yall just take a sharpie and change the numbers?
Close the zoo! Why postpone the inevitable?
"For example, the Executive Committee instead of the Board approved the budget. The actual Board took less than a half a dozen votes between my joining the Board in March 2017 and August 2018 . . ."
To clarify, did the Executive Committee know that funds were being misappropriated? And did they intentionally conceal this information from the rest of the Board?
Was this a Sun editorial or news story? Truly hard to tell the difference with Wyatt and his underling Warren. They seem to have forgotten that they are here to provide said wedding photos and charity events and wish to be known for finding dirt and bringing people and entities down. Never let the facts stand in the way of a juicy story.
Editorial.
Move the zoo to LeFluers Bluff. It would MAKE $
Wyatt Emmerich is one of the sleaziest, smarmiest little Jiminy-Crickets around. His name-dropping, boring and tiresome mentions of his mechanical vehicles, etc. etc. ad nauseam, make it no surprise that he would pull such an oafish journalistic stunt. Journalist? Hardly. He owns a paper and a computer, and just plops out whatever is on his weenie little mind that week. He would not know a real fact if one bit him on his scrawny butt. I had a very, very bad experience dealing with that paper, and I won’t have one of the sorry rags in my house.
As someone who has had dealings with Anthony Warren regarding public record requests, let's just say that what he lacks in acumen, he makes up for in willful ignorance. Not the brightest bulb in the chandelier.
Wyatt was bragging about his scoop today.
Well, Wyatt brags the way other people breathe, KF. And that puppet editor of his, the horrendous Jimmye Sweat, bless her aging old heart, has had one too many eye-lifts...her poor brain has been sucked right out her ears. She looks like a cartoon, and “edits” like one, as well.
Hopefully the board members have Directors and Officers insurance.
I’ve enjoyed reading this gossip blog but will no longer be clicking on it. The comment that was posted about my friend Jimmye Sweat is just hateful and untrue. Let’s all spread love. Not hate. If you want to say something hateful, sign your real name.
Thank you for setting the record straight KF.
Oh, so nice to meet you, Spread Love! Which is, I assume, your real name. Hypocrite!
@Spread Love
Don't let the door hit'cha where the good Lord split'cha!
Buh Bye!
@11:45 I remember learning that in 5th grade too
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