AN ORDINANCE REGARDING CITY OF EVANSVILLEÂ FUNDS ALLOCATED TO ECHO HOUSING CORP.ORDINANCE F-2018 Â INTRODUCEDÂ BY COUNCILMAN Â Elpers & Weaver
WHEREAS, ECHO Housing Corp. (“ECHOâ€) receives approximately $80,000 to $130,000 per year from the City of Evansville, which constitutes about five percent (5%) of ECHO’s $2.1 million received in 2016;
WHEREAS, ECHO is the lead agency working alongside the City on Evansville’s Promise Zone initiative, which gives the City certain advantages in obtaining federal grant money;
WHEREAS, ECHO also owns dozens of properties, including two apartment complexes that provide permanent supportive housing to formerly homeless families and veterans;
WHEREAS, ECHO is scheduled to build two more apartment complexes that will provide permanent supportive housing;
WHEREAS, ECHO’s recent executive director, Stephanie TenBarge, stepped down on March 14, 2018, following allegations that she used ECHO money to pay taxes on three of her properties in November 2017, May 2017, and November 2016;
WHEREAS, recent reports suggest Ms. TenBarge may have used ECHO funds for other personal matters beyond property taxes; and
WHEREAS, the Evansville Common Council deems it necessary and proper to enact rules requiring that all City funds allocated to ECHO be withheld for further payment until ECHO provides the City with certain assurances.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana as follows:
Section 1. Appropriation Direction. All City of Evansville funds previously allocated to ECHO Housing Corp. (“ECHOâ€) shall be withheld for further payment or allocation until ECHO provides the City with (1) an independent, third-party audit of ECHO’s finances covering the past three years, and (2) evidence satisfactory to the Common Council of Evansville demonstrating new ECHO policies and procedures in place to address and prevent fraud or embezzlement from occurring in the future.
Section 2.Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect on the day of its final passage and adoption.
PASSED BY the Common Council of the City of Evansville, Indiana, on the ___ day of _________________, 2018, and on said day signed by the President of the Common Council and attested by the City Clerk.
ATTEST:
____________________________ ____________________________
James Brinkmeyer Laura Windhorst, City Clerk
President of the Common Council City of Evansville, Indiana
Presented to me, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Evansville, Indiana, and to the Mayor of said City, the ____ day of ________________, 2018, at _____ o’clock __.m. for his consideration and action thereon.
____________________________
Laura Windhorst, City Clerk
City of Evansville, Indiana
Having examined the foregoing ordinance, I do now, as Mayor of the City of Evansville, Indiana, approve said ordinance and return the same to the City Clerk this _____ day of ______________, 2018, at ___________o’clock __.m.
____________________________
Lloyd Winnecke, Mayor
City of Evansville, Indiana
