Darci Hegreness Sangre De Cristo Arts Center Pueblo Co
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- The CEO for an Art Centre in Pueblo is accused by Pueblo County elected officials of falsifying financial reports in social club to receive more funding from the local government. In light of this accusation and a number of others, Pueblo County Commissioners said they will non financially assist in the Sangre de Cristo Arts Centre's hereafter expansion project unless their partnership is repaired.
Pueblo County Commissioner Garrison Ortiz revealed the allegations on February 16 when he read a letter singed off past his fellow county commissioners at a Sangre de Cristo Arts Center Board of Director's meeting. In the letter, the commissioners say their problems aren't with the board simply with CEO Jim Richerson.
"It has besides been brought to our attending that some of the financial reports provided to Pueblo Canton were falsified by the CEO to secure more funding from the County," the commissioners wrote in their letter to the Sangre de Cristo Arts Centre'due south Board of Directors.
The letter accuses the Richerson of having a lack of gratitude and a sense of entitlement when it comes to funding from the county.
The commissioners say they will not be contributing $ten million towards the Arts Center'south capital letter program or expansion project until the plan's cost of $70 million is revisited and the relationship between the Pueblo County Regime and the Arts Center is repaired.
"I want to ensure that nosotros are standing to work forward together to ensure that those plans happen in a financially responsible style for the taxpayer," Ortiz told 13 Investigates.
Ortiz also serves as a representative for the canton on the Sangre de Cristo Arts Eye'due south board. The Arts Center has been a publicly and privately funded non profit in Pueblo for around 50 years.
Commissioner Ortiz told xiii Investigates that the county has non shied abroad from providing funds to the Sangre de Cristo Arts Middle. For 2022 alone, the county says it is budgeting to contribute more than $1.one million the Arts Heart. Ortiz says this figure is at an all time high in the canton'south history.
xiii Investigates asked Ortiz nearly the accusations that the CEO falsified fiscal records, only he did not go into specifics. However, the commission chair says he doesn't believe information technology was criminal in nature.
"Nosotros receive quarterly reports from the Arts Center. It'south our task equally stewards of taxpayer money to ensure that we remain on top of how those dollars are spent one time they are allocated," Ortiz said when thirteen Investigates asked if the alleged actions were ethical. "I think we are just wanting to ensure that all reports going frontwards are done in a congruent way and certified past the budget and finance manager."
After Ortiz read the letter aloud, the Sangre de Cristo Art Center's meeting minutes from February. 16 state, 'CEO Jim Richerson's reaction to the letter caused adjournment of the meeting'.
In a statement to 13 Investigates, lath member Warren Diodosio told xiii Investigates Richerson passed out and an ambulance was chosen to the Sangre de Cristo Board of Directors meeting.
"During the board meeting Mr. Garrison stated to Jim Richerson the CEO of the arts heart that since the board did not appreciate funds donated and other reasons the commissioners were in agreement to withhold hereafter funds. At which fourth dimension beingness blind sighted Jim had a medical issue and an ambulance was called. Garrison left correct after that. Prior to Jim Richerson passing out I stated to the board and Garrison that I believed he was withholding funds for the new jail. Then we were asked to proceed all comments till the comment section. Which nosotros never had as the coming together was canceled due to Jim's medical status and we were asked to leave."
Sangre de Cristo Art Middle Board member Warren Diodosio.
Ortiz said the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center capitol project and the new Pueblo County Jail project are dissever from ane some other.
13 Investigates reached out to the Arts Center's CEO Jim Richerson multiple times to ask nearly the letter, the accusations, and his health following last calendar week's Lath of Directors meeting. Richerson did not respond.
During an interview with 13 Investigates, Ortiz spoke alongside the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center's Board Chair Rosina Sonntag. Ortiz said the Canton'southward relationship with the Arts Eye volition ameliorate, and information technology already has.
"There are a lot of very generous foundations and donors that take already given to this capitol plan or considered giving money to this programme," Ortiz said. "I desire for them to have absolute conviction that when they ask for where Pueblo County is in terms of investment that we are going to be there in support of a version of this programme going forrard and at that place investment they have made is going to be very impactful to arts and culture in Pueblo County."
"I think we are conspicuously on the way to doing that," Sangre de Cristo Arts Center'south Board Chair Rosina Sonntag told 13 Investigates when asked how they plan to repair their relationship with the county authorities. "We are in constant advice about what each of us feels is all-time for the Arts Heart. Nosotros seem to have the same goal which is our mission which is to create educational experiences for all of southern Colorado. I feel like we are already on our mode towards a greater partnership."
The Sangre de Cristo Arts Middle's Board of Directors volition meet on Friday.
Source: https://krdo.com/news/2022/02/24/pueblo-county-accuses-sangre-de-cristo-art-center-ceo-of-falsifying-financial-reports/
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