Suspicious payments highlight financial impropriety at Keith County Senior Center

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley issued a letter this week describing alleged financial impropriety by the former Director of the Keith County Senior Center in Ogallala.

Auditor Foley details thousands of suspicious payments to Jeanine “Jeanie” Herman, who served as the Director of the Keith County Senior Center until March of 2023. According to Auditor Foley’s letter, Herman processed $13,620 in excessive payroll as well as improper sick and vacation leave, and disbursements to herself. The letter alleges that she did so so without approval from the governing Keith County Senior Center Board of Directors and in violation of their policies.

“This is a classic example of what can and does go wrong when any entity trusts one person to have total control over financial transactions to the point where he or she can make improper payments without detection due to a lack of oversight and controls,” Foley observed.

The specifics of Ms. Herman’s apparent wrongdoing are being reported, the letter concludes, to the Nebraska State Patrol, Keith County Attorney, and Nebraska Attorney General, according to Auditor Foley’s letter.