Community center closes in Perrysburg
Investigation ties up funding
9/7/2013Perrysburg Heights Community Association board members are under investigation by the Ohio Attorney General's Office, forcing the association to shut down the community center to save funds to pay attorney fees.
The state investigation is looking at whether the nonprofit is operating properly and whether board members are receiving personal financial gain, according to association treasurer Jason Craig.
The Attorney General's Office would not divulge details of the investigation or indicate what penalties could be imposed.
The office received six complaints, including that the association's president, Jesse Spier, was gaining a profit from the center being rented out to his business, and that other members of the association were profiting from renting the center out. The complaints also maintained that gift cards donated to the association were sold on eBay.
Mr. Spier is president of the Toledo Sport and Social Club, which rents the center's gym space.
To lower bills, the association has closed its doors temporarily to save on electrical and air conditioning bills. The costs from the investigation, Mr. Craig said, could mean the association would no longer be able to run the facility.
The community center is a building for children to play in after school, get tutoring help, and spend time in the gym space or game room. Mr. Craig said he and other board members will open their homes until the facility reopens, to ensure kids get homework help.