Evansville City Council Gives Echo Housing Time To Release Audits Results

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AMANDA PORTER INDIANA

In a eight to one vote, Evansville city council members voted to table an ordinance to withhold funding from the Echo Housing Corporation.

The decision comes after the former director Stephanie Tenbarge alleged misused thousands of dollars of funds.

A full was house at Evansville Civic Center patiently waiting for council to make a decision that could affect affordable housing in Evansville.

Several council members demanded transparency from the non-profit corporation.

“We were never going to find out about these issues so we have a right to know,” says Missy Mosyby. “What else do we need to know?”

Echo Housing’s interim director says the organization will voluntarily share the results of an audit

“Give us time to complete our processes,” says Chris Metz. “Give us time to complete the forensic audit, give us time to continue working with outside entities to complete the revision and the review of our accounting process and our control procedures.”

But the council wants specifics.

On top of former executive director Stephanie Tenbarge allegedly writing several checks, council members questioned how echo housing board members say they did not notice the misuse of funds.

“When the gentleman named Silas from the federal government came to town in relation to Promise Zone money that Stephanie Tenbarge paid for his expenses on her personal credit card because there were no funds available for echo,” says council member Michelle Mercer.

The organization says the ordinance could have affected fifteen hundred units of affordable housing expected to be complete in a month.

“we are working right now to complete Garvin commons,” says Metz, “A 44 unit affordable housing complex which we be finished within 30 days. This ordinance has the potential to jeopardize the completion of that project.”

The organization says all checks at Echo Housing now require two signatures, and says the findings of the audit will be made public by mid May.

Amanda Porter

Reporter and Anchor for 44News

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5 COMMENTS

  1. Perhaps Councilwoman Mercer, the reason why Ms Tenbarge paid Silas for travel expenses supposedly out of her person funds is due to ECHO’s negative bank balance? Perhaps that would not have been necessary if the alleged defalcations had not occurred? Perhaps Ms Mercer needs to begin think on her own and tune out the Mayor and of course Mr. Park?

  2. Let’s guess . . .when the audit report hits the street, we will discover that Ms Tenbarge performed the bank reconciliations? Of course, probability says that Ms Tenbarge also had the password, if passwords were even implemented to the general ledger (most likely Quick Books) so the recordation most likely would have been posted by Ms Tenbarge. Of course, the Council should not be surprised that Ms Tenbarge had access to the mail together with email bank correspondence. Having access to mail affords a wrongdoer the possibility of diverting donations into separate bank accounts where of course, the wrongdoer is the only signature. Of course this is all speculation and Ms Tenbarge is be considered innocent until the facts prove differently.

  3. A very loose arrangement with the Public’s money. Where’s the Controller on this? Meek and Mild! Volunteering the books should not be the way this is done. Demand an Accounting or allow city auditors to come in.

  4. CC right to delay action. TenBarges day will come – not going anywhere. Typical non profit lack of oversight. Fix it, prosecute the offender and move on. This is a vital local service. Lets not over react. Anger can makes one reckless

  5. I remember resigning from the Board of a local NFP in the early 1980’s due to the fact the executive director had a checking account established that the Board was not aware of and he refused to share its activity with the Board. In my resignation letter, which I copied to all other Board members, I requested an audit of the account and that it subsequently be closed. Nothing happened and a few years later the ED was accused of misappropriating organizational funds and forced to resign.

    Board members have a responsibility to insure that funds are spent according to the bylaws and the reason that the NFP exists. If you are on a Board, ask questions and demand answers or you may find yourself held financially accountable.

    This entity continues to fail the public relations game. I also wonder why Mr. Coures has seemingly become their public face and advocate?

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