Drama unfolds at La Pine Park & Rec meeting when board member is asked to explain a suspect financial transaction
LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- KTVZ News initially planned to attend Tuesday night's La Pine Park & Rec District Board meeting to cover the upcoming special election happening on May 20th to vote in new board members.
But the meeting turned hostile when Facilities Coordinator Wynn Malikowski confronted Board Member Carlos Soto over a discrepancy in the books.
Until last year, Malikowski was under the impression the La Pine Pickleball Club and the La Pine Park & Rec District were operating separately, and the Pickleball Club was operating as a 501(c) nonprofit.
It was later discovered that it was not. In fact, the club had been accepting pickleball fees and other funds under the umbrella and account of the district.
Pickleball President Carlos Soto got a park district credit card, even though he was never an employee of the district.
Before all of the Park & Rec board members resigned last October, Soto authorized a withdrawal from the district’s account. It was more than $10,000, made payable to the La Pine Pickleball Club. Soto was and is the president of the club.
Malikowski picks it up from here.
“I've have not been able to find where this was approved or even voted on by the former board members. The check written to LPPC was endorsed and deposited by club President Carlos Soto on 10/1024. An account statement from First Interstate Bank confirms the check cleared the account on 10/11/2024.”
According to Malikowski, he found it strange Soto would have access to a La Pine Park & Rec’s account, since he was never an employee.
Malikowski asked Soto where the money went. His response:
“I don't have that information. When we were under the all-party banner, we were not given any access to our financials, which we told we were.”
Soto also said he was under the impression that the Pickleball Club had $17,000 in the district’s account, but was later told the money belonged to the district, not the Pickleball Club.
Where that check, written for over $10,000, was deposited, and what he did with the money? Soto says he does not recall.
Malikowski and Soto both declined to be interviewed on this issue, but Malikowski confirmed there is an investigation by the Oregon State Police.
Malikowski also declined to hand over the documents which he presented in the board meeting, for KTVZ’s review.
We'll continue to follow this story and report back when there’s an update.