Gov. Kay Ivey eliminated all of the members of the Motor Sports Hall of Fame Commission after an audit released in October cited 35 violations of state legal guidelines or rules and greater than $200,000 in misspent funds.
Ivey’s appointments director notified the fee members of their removing in a letter Oct. 24.
“I am writing to inform you that Governor Ivey has removed all members of the Motor Sports Hall of Fame Commission, for cause, effective immediately. For various reasons, Governor Ivey believes this is the right time for a fresh start at the Hall of Fame.
“Thank you for your understanding in this matter, and we appreciate your service to the State during your tenure on the Commission.”
The governor’s resolution was first reported by Alabama Daily News.
Former longtime state Sen. Gerald Dial of Lineville, who was chairman of the fee, instructed AL.com he was assured that neither he nor anybody else on the fee did something mistaken.
“I’m more than confident,” Dial stated. “Me and that board has never done anything wrong. We’ve worked. I’ve been there for 45 years.”
Dial stated he sponsored the laws creating the fee many years in the past.
“I’ve never taken one dime,” Dial stated.
Dial stated he tried to fulfill with the governor to speak concerning the points however was not allowed to take action.
“Governor Ivey is responsible for ensuring all state entities are operating effectively with transparency,” stated Ivey’s communications director, Gina Maiola.
“After the governor reviewed the audit on the Motor Sports Hall of Fame, she made the decision to remove all members of the Commission and appoint new membership to carry out the mission.
“The governor takes accountability very seriously and she felt difficult action was necessary.”
The Motor Sports Hall of Fame Commission oversees the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame, which features a museum close to the Talladega Superspeedway.
The fee’s 18 members are appointed by the governor and serve staggered eight-year phrases.
The audit, finished by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, lined a five-year interval that ended Sept. 30, 2024.
(*35*)The examiners discovered a variety of violations.
The examiners cited a number of violations involving how the fee bought automobiles it owned or had obtained as donations.
Those included a case through which cash from the gross sales of two donated automobiles was deposited with a non-public basis affiliated with the fee, slightly than the fee.
Dial defended these transactions. Dial stated he deliberate to say extra later in response to the governor’s resolution to take away all of the fee’s members.
Some of the findings concerned what the examiners stated had been basic failures to safeguard the fee’s funds.
A former worker was allowed to manage each the cash coming in and going out.
The lack of an unbiased evaluate led to expenditures for unauthorized functions or with out documentation.
Chief Examiner Rachel Riddle ordered the fee’s former account supervisor to repay $236,610 in fee funds.
The report stated the cash had not been repaid and that the matter was referred to the Alabama lawyer common’s workplace.
The lawyer common’s workplace declined remark.
Dial has beforehand stated he made a mistake in hiring the previous account supervisor.
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