La Pine Park & Rec board member explains La Pine Pickleball Club relationship with district, finances
La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- KTVZ News reported last month on a La Pine Park & Rec meeting where board member Carlos Soto was questioned about a district financial transaction with the La Pine Pickleball Club, of which he serves as president.
At Monday's board meeting, Soto read this statement into the record, explaining the situation, and he has provided it to KTVZ News, which we are sharing in full:
"The question about the check on 10/10/24 that was made out to La Pine Pickleball Club, signed by Gary Gordon (then board chair) and Deren Ash (then treasurer), and deposited by me, into the La Pine Pickleball Club bank account has been asked and answered twice now. Last month it was brought up for the third time. {Insert eye-roll}
"So, for the community members, here is some brief context to help you understand how that transpired. The La Pine Pickleball Club decided to go in a new direction and come out from under the LPRD banner. In doing so, there were a lot of legal steps to be taken. Once those legal steps were accomplished, we could close our account with LPRD, and the check that was issued and made out to La Pine Pickleball Club is what was left in our account.
"At no point has taxpayer money ever been used or asked for by the La Pine Pickleball Club, it has always been La Pine Pickleball member-controlled finances after the district got their required portion. It was a simple business deal that greatly favored the La Pine Parks and Rec District.
"Pickleball is the fastest-growing recreational sport in the world. In this country, no matter where you go, Pickleball is associated with Parks and Recreation, either as a private club using district property or under the Parks and Recreation Banner. In my initial letter to the past E.D. and board chair about La Pine Pickleball Club’s new direction, I expressed and promised our continued relationship with LPRD to make our bond even stronger than before and to provide this sport to the entire community at an affordable cost.
The La Pine Pickleball Club membership base is made up of current law enforcement, former law enforcement, attorneys, teachers, business owners, NFL referees, and most of us are veterans, myself included. I was elected as President, and I answer to them.
"As the only solvent adult program with LPRD, we have paid our way to the district from day 1. Upgrading the gym floor for everyone to use, building brand new outdoor courts, and maintaining anything related to pickleball, all at the expense of our members, not taxpayer monies, and quadruple our annual cash donation to LPRD, $10,000 annually with payments to coincide when they need it the most in August of each year. The La Pine Pickleball Club even proposed building a 2.1 million dollar multi-use recreational facility on LPRD property, all of it funded by the members of LPPC and given to the district and not one cent of taxpayer dollars.
"In closing, I’d like to say one final thought. Due to my well-documented experience with LPRD as the President of the La Pine Pickleball Club, and then being installed as a new board member for this administration, and quickly seeing how poorly things were handled, it was evident how all of my questions would go unanswered. Because of that, I have been championing the installation of a budget committee. Make sure it’s on the agenda, call the board chair, ask how many seats we have filled, and ask community members to apply. All of this so that no one ever has to go through the same experience we went through as the pickleball club as we all move forward."
