Senior Center financial probe underway

BROSELEY, Mo. -- Butler County authorities continue to investigate whether mismanagement and poor record keeping are to blame for recently discovered financial issues at the Broseley Senior Center.

The Butler County Sheriff's Department was contacted in late August by Dewayne Brotherton, president of the board for Broseley Senior Citizens Inc., which operates the community and nutrition center, asking for an investigation into "past finances" involving the center, according to Sheriff Mark Dobbs.

The investigation, Dobbs said, centers on the handling of daily funds and grant money during the operation of the center and concerns the activities of a former employee.

"At this time, full cooperation has been given by all parties involved, and the investigation is ongoing," Dobbs said.

Investigator Mike Elliott, who is handling the investigation, said the reason his work is taking so long is because personnel are having to concentrate on the center's well-being as it continues to provide services and haven't had a chance to go through the records he needs.

Center officials, Elliott said, reported having learned of unpaid bills, overdrawn bank accounts and the loss of its tax-exempt status.

The center and five board members also reportedly were served with a civil lawsuit filed in mid-August by a contractor, Sides Construction Co. in Jackson, for breach of contract because its bill for building the new center had not been paid. Sides Construction dropped the lawsuit Sept. 19.

"Like other [similar investigations] we've worked, there's not enough attention to what's going on … lack of oversight, no records, no checks and balances," Dobbs said.

Often in these cases, Dobbs said, "there are piles and piles of less-than-desirable records you have to sift through."

Based on those records, "we have to determine two things: What's bad business practice and what's actual theft, if at all," Dobbs said. "We have to find what it is we're looking at" before a decision on how to proceed is made.

Dobbs said officers are waiting to see what the "end result" of the compiled records is to determine "if it's something we can handle or whether we need to pass [the investigation] on to the Highway Patrol."

Dobbs said he is hopeful the investigation will go forward with continued cooperation.

"No criminal allegations are being made at this time," he said.

Elliott agreed.

"It is too early in the investigation to speak with knowledge concerning possible criminal charges," Elliot said. "At present, it is hoped that this is just a matter of mismanagement and poor records keeping."

According to Elliott, center officials have put a plan in place and instituted several different oversights.

"They have got their financial legs under them," Elliott said. "There is no danger of this entity having an interruption in services or anything like that. " … They've taken steps to make sure [the center is viable and self supporting."

The center's new building, which was dedicated in October 2012, is a 4,200-square-foot facility. It can seat 200 people in its dining area.