The Emporia Senior Center has enough money to keep the doors open under normal circumstances.
That’s the report from board member Karen Hartenbower to KVOE News on Monday after the theft of almost $115,000 was announced last week.
Hartenbower says the Senior Center is paying its bills and is not “in arrears” at this time.
Court documents provided to KVOE News last week showed board members were alerted to the theft in September. The initial range was from $85,000 to $120,000, and a subsequent audit showed almost $115,000 was stolen from 2014 through September 2017.
The Senior Center receives a roughly $35,000 allocation from Lyon County every year. Hartenbower says the North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging also offers a small return amount per meal on food served at the center every day. Hartenbower tells KVOE News it takes about $72,000 per year to operate the Senior Center, and the facility received $8,000 in emergency operating funds from the county and another $5,000 from Match Day last fall.
Prior director Lannie Lyman faces a single count of theft of over $100,000. the court affidavit says Lyman took funds, allegedly altering Quickbooks records and taking other steps to cover her tracks. Hartenbower says the board has made some adjustments to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
Calls to Lyman’s phone recorded in KVOE’s records go to voice mail. Lyman’s first appearance in Lyon County District Court is July 31.
The board has increased dance fees and continues its reliance on weekly bingo activities every Tuesday to keep the doors open. Additional activities, including the first-ever Treasures and Trunk Flea Market on Aug. 4, will help to generate funds.
The Senior Center serves over 2,000 seniors per year. Bingo nights, meanwhile, draw better than 100 people per week to the facility.
To donate to the Senior Center, call 343-3160.
