According to the audit filed by the Kentucky Office of Public Accounts in December 2015 city funds and assets we used to illegally support a private sports team. The Eastern Kentucky Drillers were an indoor football team based out of Pikeville. According to the auditor, between May 2012 and January 2013 former Mayor Jerry Fannin authorized payments and services to them equaling nearly 8-thousand dollars. 25-hundred of that amount included housing team members in two cabins at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park for 35 days. The money used for this expense was taken from the City’s Senior Fund. This money had been obtained through the United Way of Eastern Kentucky, and was earmarked for the Meals on Wheels program. During at least one away game city vehicles and employees were utilized to transport the team. There are records that indicate that the city’s gas card was used to purchase fuel for the team during 4 away games. The Kentucky league of cities handbook creates a guideline for donating to private entities. The city must benefit from the donation, they must control the organization or how the money is spent, and the expenditure must benefit the public at large. According to the auditor, these did not meet any of the criteria. I will include a complete breakdown of the funds and their source on our website.

Money and services rendered to the Eastern Kentucky Drillers by the City of Prestonsburg

24 May 2012            $300 check from the Mountain Arts Center

01 July 2013            $400 check from the Mountain Arts Center

02 February 2012  $200 check from the General Fund

23 January 2013     $1,350 check from the General Fund

28 January 2013     $500 check from 911 Wireline

29 January 2013     $500 check from Fire Department Support

28 January 2013     $500 check from Parking Fund

28 January 2013     $500 check from Stonecrest

12 March 2013        $250 check from tourism

01 January 2013    $250 check from tourism

Total check amount: $4,750

$2,500 payment from the City’s Senior Citizens Fund for two cabins at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park for 35 days. The senior Citizens vans and personnel were used to transport the team. Those costs were not included in the audit.

 

Gas Card Charges by team:

08 February 2013    $68.66

01 March 2013         $51.43

17 March 2013         $265.37

21 March 2013         $199.60

Total Gas Charges: 585.06

 

Total charges to the city: 7,835.06 (Plus the unlisted maintenance for city vehicles and wages for drivers)

Total check amount: $4,750

Payment for Cabins: $2,500

Total Gas Charges: 585.06