Alex Paul
Mike Riggle, former director of the Sweet Home Senior Center, was charged Monday with two counts of Theft in the Second Degree in connection with what the Sweet Home Police Department believes is misuse of Senior Center funds.
Police Chief Bob Burford said late Monday the charges stem from a report from current Senior Center board president Don Hopkins concerning a missing computer valued at $1,100.
The computer was located at Riggle’s home and was boxed and apparently ready for transport. Riggle told an investigating officer that he had been given approval to purchase the computer and to use it at his residence for transportation service work. The investigating officer said a check of the computer’s hard drive indicated that was the type of material input and remaining on the computer’s operating system.
Riggle said he planned to return the computer to the Senior Center but was concerned about doing so in person due to a high level of animosity that exists after his dismissal two weeks ago.
It was during the computer investigation that the Senior Center administration learned of two withdrawels of funds that had apparently been used to pay Riggle’s power and light and cable TV bills. The payments were for $265 to PP and L on January 15 and $100 to Comcast on January 20.
Riggle told the investigator that due to higher than usual expenditures for Senior Center duties, he had cut into his personal budget and had been told by a Senior Center representative such transactions would be allowed, provided the funds be repaid.
He said he was dismissed from his job before he could make such repayment.
Chief Burford also said that the investigator checked with two persons whom Riggle said approved the transactions and both denied his allegations as did Don Hopkins.
The Police Department is also investigating other allegations against Riggle but no charges nor further information were made as of late Monday.
Other issues surrounding Riggle’s dismissal focus on fines of nearly $6,000 from the IRS and Oregon Department of Revenue because he failed to make quarterly reports and payments for employees to the Oregon Department of Revenue.
According to Hopkins, the incidents spanned three quarters, or basically, the entire time Mr. Riggle was employed by the Senior Center. He took over as director in May 2003 and was dismissed in March 2004.
“I have a letter indicating we will be forgiven for $2,700 and a verbal commitment that another $2,900 will be forgiven,” Hopkins said. “He (Riggle) reportedly said he had extensive payroll experience and if that’s the case, he should know these things have to be filed and on time. He also failed to file necessary non-profit reports.”
The Senior Center is the business office for the Linn-Benton Transportation System and was put on notice March 11 that funding was in jeopardy if Riggle were to continue in his position.
Martin Loring, administrator for the ODOT Public Transit Division, told The New Era last week that his office had given Riggle the “benefit of the doubt” since he was new at his position, but that over several months, he became concerned when numerous reports were not filed and excuses were made by Riggle.
He was also concerned when ODOT provided Riggle with a scholarship of $913 for airfare, lodging and tuition to attend a training session in Spokane, Wash. Riggle reportedly attended about four hours of the two-day program.
“The purpose of the session is to orient new persons to the transit program and how it works,” Mr. Loring said. “To our knowledge, he only showed up for part of the program. We have not run into this example before.”
Although Riggle excused his absence due to illness, Mr. Loring said he learned that was not factual.
“There are certain reports that the Senior Center needs to provide to be reimbursed by us,” Mr. Loring said. “Our staff made many calls and was always given reasons why the reports weren’t done. He was new and it is human nature to say these things can happen but the frequency soon made it clear there was a problem.”
Mr. Loring said there is a silver lining to the situation.
“The fact is, the system in Sweet Home is terrific,” he said. “Our staff is committed to helping the community get past this.”
Mr. Loring was also highly complimentary of Senior Center President Don Hopkins, whom he said is working diligently to rectify issues at the Center.
“The best thing to do when you find a bad apple is to cut it out and move on from there,” Mr. Loring said.
ODOT provides significant funding to transportation programs in Linn county and Sweet Home in general.
The Public Transportation Division, based on a 50% match, provided $28,774 in FY 2003 and $31,651 in FY 2004.
The City of Sweet Home received $18,964 in FY 2003 and $20,860 in FY 2004.
In the 2001-2003 biennium, Linn county was awarded a Special Transportation Grant for $18,400 to help fund a receptionist position at the Senior Center. This grant continued into the current biennium.
Don Hopkins said he is working extensively with the ODOT staff and is thankful for their positive approach to the situation.
“He (Riggle) has let a lot of people down…they had great confidence in him,” Hopkins said.