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Agency loses public funding
December 21, 2006
A Klamath Falls employment training and job search agency under investigation for financial mismanagement will lose its public funding Dec. 31.
The state board that oversees Klamath-Lake Employment Training Institute voted unanimously Monday to terminate the institute's contract, citing dissatisfaction with the institute's response to a possible misappropriation of $1.6 million in federal funds.
Federal funds make up a percentage of the employment institute's annual budget. But Tim Wehrly, a member of the institute's executive board, said Wednesday KLETI would continue to operate using private funds.
Wehrly also said KLETI chose not to continue its contract with its state board, the Oregon Consortium/Oregon Workforce Alliance.
“We've been talking about this for the last 45-60 days,” he said. “We believe (services) will be better provided at the private level.”
Kris Latimer, chief executive officer of Oregon Consortium/Oregon Workforce Alliance, said the agency did not offer a contract extension to KLETI.
Job and training services
The institute provides job and training services for disadvantaged and dislocated in Klamath and Lake counties and serves about 10,000 annually.
State workforce alliance officials said they would establish transitional employment services for Klamath and Lake counties. State board members also will need to secure data, records and other property possessed by KLETI that belongs to the Oregon Consortium/Oregon Workforce Alliance.
Murf Karns, president of the regional workforce investment board, said he expected KLETI would close as a result of its loss of public funding, but he wasn't sure of any other implications.
“I don't have a clue as to what happens from here,” he said.
Klamath County commissioner John Elliott, a KLETI executive board member, confirmed Wednesday the KLETI board voted to terminate the contract with the state and will seek “a mutual transition of services.”
Elliott said he didn't know how much private funding would be required to keep KLETI's doors open.
State investigation
A year-long investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice found that KLETI misused the funds during a period dating to 2003, according to a 73-page report issued in July.
Evidence of nepotism and other preferential treatment of family members of staff who worked at the institute also were mentioned in the report.
According to documents from Oregon Consor-tium/Oregon Workforce Alliance, the agency's executive board terminated KLETI's contract for these three reasons:
Identification of additional contract violations
Insufficient progress in the resolution of current questioned costs
Lack of progress to assure the safeguard of contracted funds.
Four of the five executive members expressed dissatisfaction with KLETI and its “ongoing disregard for federal, state and local policy.”
Sheila Crawford, executive director of KLETI, could not be reached for comment.
Audit resolution stemming from allegations of financial mismanagement will continue, Wehrly said, with preliminary judgment from the U.S. Department of Labor expected in mid-January.
- Ty Beaver
A Klamath Falls employment training and job search agency under investigation for financial mismanagement will lose its public funding Dec. 31.
The state board that oversees Klamath-Lake Employment Training Institute voted unanimously Monday to terminate the institute's contract, citing dissatisfaction with the institute's response to a possible misappropriation of $1.6 million in federal funds.
Federal funds make up a percentage of the employment institute's annual budget. But Tim Wehrly, a member of the institute's executive board, said Wednesday KLETI would continue to operate using private funds.
Wehrly also said KLETI chose not to continue its contract with its state board, the Oregon Consortium/Oregon Workforce Alliance.
“We've been talking about this for the last 45-60 days,” he said. “We believe (services) will be better provided at the private level.”
Kris Latimer, chief executive officer of Oregon Consortium/Oregon Workforce Alliance, said the agency did not offer a contract extension to KLETI.
Job and training services
The institute provides job and training services for disadvantaged and dislocated in Klamath and Lake counties and serves about 10,000 annually.
State workforce alliance officials said they would establish transitional employment services for Klamath and Lake counties. State board members also will need to secure data, records and other property possessed by KLETI that belongs to the Oregon Consortium/Oregon Workforce Alliance.
Murf Karns, president of the regional workforce investment board, said he expected KLETI would close as a result of its loss of public funding, but he wasn't sure of any other implications.
“I don't have a clue as to what happens from here,” he said.
Klamath County commissioner John Elliott, a KLETI executive board member, confirmed Wednesday the KLETI board voted to terminate the contract with the state and will seek “a mutual transition of services.”
Elliott said he didn't know how much private funding would be required to keep KLETI's doors open.
State investigation
A year-long investigation by the Oregon Department of Justice found that KLETI misused the funds during a period dating to 2003, according to a 73-page report issued in July.
Evidence of nepotism and other preferential treatment of family members of staff who worked at the institute also were mentioned in the report.
According to documents from Oregon Consor-tium/Oregon Workforce Alliance, the agency's executive board terminated KLETI's contract for these three reasons:
Four of the five executive members expressed dissatisfaction with KLETI and its “ongoing disregard for federal, state and local policy.”
Sheila Crawford, executive director of KLETI, could not be reached for comment.
Audit resolution stemming from allegations of financial mismanagement will continue, Wehrly said, with preliminary judgment from the U.S. Department of Labor expected in mid-January.
- Ty Beaver
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leesa wrote on Jan 23, 2009 12:37 PM:
" these things should never happened in this world. the world should be safe. "
samantha r. wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:12 PM:
" this article is So true when your a teen girl and your pregnant It seems to feel like your life is over and there is no way you can fix it but that's not true if your young and your going to have a child then stay focused in school your child wants you to succeed in life so he/she can succeed in life my name is Samantha R. I'm 14 years old i live in Klamath falls and i might be pregnant :] If so I'm determined to make sure my child has a better life then i did :] "
Babe wrote on Jan 23, 2008 6:54 PM:
" I think that chiloquin people do need help and not just the teens but i have also seen places that are alot worse i moved from L.A to chiloquin and ive been back there since and trust me chiloquin is nothing. I also think that crime and drugs etc. are noticed more because it is so small compared to other places and there is no form of disaplin at all "
Tony P. wrote on Jan 19, 2008 7:55 PM:
" I remember the night the plane went down.. My mother crying and my dad in tears.. his dad searched for him for years...
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Jane D. wrote on Apr 10, 2009 12:00 AM:
I Love You Bobby
May your soul Rest In Peace
-Deems "