![]() The Franklin County Commissioners continue to be concerned with the recent allegations involving the now-former executives of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The Franklin County Board of Commissioners issued the following statement Thursday: Porter Wright reported their findings Monday. Stalf says he “became the youngest zoo director in the country when tapped to manage Niabi Zoo in 1995.” He left for Columbus in May 2010.Īfter a report of the possible improper use of Columbus Zoo resources, the zoo’s board of directors started an internal investigation and also hired a law firm, Porter Wright, to conduct an independent inquiry. “I’m troubled by both the allegations and the lack of transparency here, and this office will get to the bottom of it.” “Charity may begin at home for an individual, but it’s trouble when an executive for a charitable organization uses company resources for friends and family,” Yost said. In his statement Thursday, Shumate said because of those calls for transparency and “the community’s broad interest,” Porter Wright’s preliminary report - which was delivered verbally to the board on Monday - will be converted to a written record and released to the public Tuesday.Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has announced Thursday his office will be conducting an investigation after recent allegations against two former Columbus Zoo and Aquarium executives.Īccording to a statement from the zoo, President and CEO Tom Stalf - the former director of Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley - and Executive Vice President and CFO Greg Bell have voluntarily resigned their positions. Members of both the Franklin County Commission and the Columbus City Council have called on the zoo to release its internal investigation results publicly. The Columbus Zoo receives levy funds from taxpayers in Franklin County, home to Columbus, the state’s capital and largest city. Shumate said a second phase is planned to address broader issues of policy, procedures and practices. The first phase of work by the selected law firm, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, which focused on the two executives, is complete, The Dispatch reported, citing Shumate. A committee of the board recommended hiring outside counsel to investigate. The newspaper has reported that its questions prompted an internal review by the zoo’s board of directors in March. “Jungle Jack” Hanna is a zookeeper and Columbus Zoo director emeritus who became a well-known media personality. “It was (an) honor building on the legacy of Jack Hanna and making a strong impact on wildlife care and conservation internationally,” he said. ![]() In a Tuesday statement reported by the Quad-City Times in Davenport, Iowa, Stalf said he was proud of what he accomplished in Columbus and planned to continue his work in global and local wildlife conservation. ![]() Neither Stalf nor Bell could immediately be reached Thursday. “Charity may begin at home for an individual, but it’s trouble when an executive for a charitable organization uses company resources for friends and family,” Yost said in a statement. He stepped out of retirement to take immediate control. The zoo named Director Emeritus Jerry Borin interim president and CEO on Tuesday. ![]() The newspaper reported that Stalf, 52, and Bell, 61, allowed relatives to live in houses owned or controlled by the zoo and sought tickets for family members to zoo entertainment events.īoth Stalf and Bell resigned Monday. Yost’s action was prompted by a Columbus Dispatch investigation that uncovered apparent improprieties by Tom Stalf, then president and CEO, and Greg Bell, then chief financial officer. zoos.īoard Chair Keith Shumate said in a statement that the zoo welcomes Yost’s involvement and will work with his office “as it examines the facts of this matter.” Its animal population is ranked second largest among U.S. Republican Attorney General Dave Yost placed his office’s Charitable Law Section in charge of the probe targeting the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, a 501(c)3 nonprofit located in the Columbus suburb of Powell. COLUMBUS - Ohio’s top law enforcer placed one of the nation’s largest zoos under investigation Thursday after a newspaper reported misuse of assets by two top executives who later resigned. ![]()
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