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In April 2007, I titled a post "Laverty the Disaster" and concluded it with this warning:
I believe the President's selection of Lyle Laverty for the #3 position within the Department of Interior represents just about the worst possible choice. "Disaster" does not begin to describe what we can expect if he is confirmed.
Pasted below is an article from today's Rocky Mountain News about a newly completed audit of Colorado Parks as it had operated under Laverty's leadership.
Here's the bottom line of that audit.
"There is a pervasive, long-standing culture of abuse, waste and loss," said Jennifer Harmon, a legislative auditor. "It needs a complete turnaround."
Today the Department of Interior needs a complete turnaround and a fresh start. The same thing can be said about the Legislature, the Judiciary the Executive Office, the National Park Service, the US Forest Service and a lot more. The appended article suggests: ".... it's like the inmates are in control." I'd suggest that many of those now in control should rightly be inmates.
Scott
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http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jul/15/audit-scolds-state-parks-division-for-egregious/
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Audit scolds state parks division for 'egregious waste'
$800-per-hour comedian cited among problems
By Carrie Porter
The Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation failed to account
for $1.3 million of lottery funds, paid a comedian $800 an hour to
entertain staff and "circumvented the standard reservation processes"
to procure stays in park cabins for staff and friends, according to a
state audit.
"This is the most egregious waste of money and resources I've seen in
my four years on the audit committee," said Sen. David Schultheis,
R-Colorado Springs.
The Legislative Audit Committee met Monday for a four-hour review with
members of the parks division and Great Outdoors Colorado.
GOCO funds some park acquisitions for the division of parks.
The state auditor blamed a lack of accountability and oversight, in
addition to fiscal irresponsibility, for the litany of problems.
Auditors discovered more than $2 million of questionable payments for
contracts, as well as a consistent pattern of resources appropriated
for personal use.
"We found that the Division improperly authorized two employees to
commute in state vehicles at a cost of nearly $40,400 between January
2004 and October 2007 and did not report these benefits as taxable
income on the employees' W-2 forms," the audit states.
Additionally, auditors found division staff members used "fully
furnished cabins at Mueller State Park to benefit themselves, their
friends . . . and organizations with which the Division does business,"
reserving the cabins during holidays and booking them before the public
could.
Auditors also found expenditures they deemed "unreasonable and unnecessary."
"For example, the Division paid $6,100 for employee entertainment
during a three-day training for 250 employees," the audit report states.
"Expenses included hiring a comedian at a cost of $800 per hour and renting casino equipment for $5,300.
"In addition, the Division spent about $43,000 for food during this
training, which was significantly higher than the state's allowable per
diem.
"Had the Division used the per diem . . . the costs to the State would have been $21,700 less," the audit states.
"There is a pervasive, long- standing culture of abuse, waste and
loss," said Jennifer Harmon, a legislative auditor. "It needs a
complete turnaround."
Mike King, deputy executive director of the Department of Natural
Resources, said the DNR takes the "audit's findings extremely
seriously."
"The auditors have given us a road map, and now we know the magnitude
of the issues we face and the direction we have to go," King said.
"What needs to be clear is that things approved in the past will no longer be acceptable."
GOCO Board Chairwoman Norma Anderson, who served on the audit committee
during the division's last audit, in July 2000, said the situation has
worsened.
"There is no oversight, and it's like the inmates are in control," she
said. "There are systemic issues within the agency that require major
changes."
John Swartout, GOCO's executive director, said GOCO requested an audit in March 2007, when discrepancies surfaced.
Unless records become more transparent, Swartout threatens to withhold funding.
And better training is a central theme in the audit recommendations.
New leadership within the division signals a fresh start.
Dean Winstanley stepped in as director of the division in November 2007, replacing Lyle Laverty.
Two new commission members were appointed last year, and Steve Cassin took over as chief financial officer three months ago.
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