From today's News-Gazette:
Tracy Parsons resigned today after 13 years as head of the Champaign County Urban League, saying "the time is right."
"I've been doing this for 13 years," Parsons said this morning. "We've done a lot of good stuff, helped a lot of people. And in some ways I think I changed the climate in this community a little bit. We're going to give somebody else the reins to handle this challenge."
The Urban League board said this morning it will conduct a national search for Parsons' replacement and appoint an interim leader shortly.
Parsons, an Urbana native, was named president and chief executive officer in August 1994. He led the league through rapid growth, taking it from a $1 million agency with five programs to one with a budget of more than $5 million, 25 programs and 60 employees.
But the last year has been a troubled one, with the agency losing two state grants worth $3 million annually . State officials questioned the Urban League's fiscal oversight and demanded it repay hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on the energy-assistance and weatherization programs.
Discuss.
UPDATE: Title fixed - I had written "Urbana League" instead of "Urban League." Sorry!
Looks like a job for Imani Bazzell.
So, Parsons is leaving, without another job lined up, just because "the time is right" and it has nothing to do with the publicity in Sunday's paper about the problems at the Urban League. Anyone who believes that also believes the Giant Pumpkin came out on Halloween. We haven't heard the last of this story yet.
Do not be surprised if Terry Townsends name comes up of this job,,,,,if he wants the headaches:)
"Anyone who believes that also believes the Giant Pumpkin came out on Halloween. We haven't heard the last of this story yet." I believe it is the Great Pumpkin.
I hear the EDC director is also stepping down.
According to the Champaign County Circuit Clerk website, Parson's middle-man company, TP Enterprises, had a $47,000 judgment against it which was satisfied on August 6th. Where did the money come from? One would be tempted to go down to the Urban League and ask to see their IRS Form 990, although the one for 2007 wouldn't have been filed yet. The crack investigative team at the N-G is probably on it. Also, it's interesting to look at the Urban League's board. It has such luminaries as Ed Bland, the executive director of the Champaign Housing Authority and Arthur Culver, the superintendent of Champaign schools on it. Bland, we will remember from the N-G story in 2003 left his old job in Gary, Indiana under fire for mismanaging their housing program. And of course Parsons is on the Unit 4 blue ribbon panel named several weeks ago to drum up support for a tax increase to build some new elementary school buildings. But we can breath easily now, financial controls are in place. Bob Dodd is meeting with the bookkeeper every couple of weeks and checks now require two signatures. Hmmm. Wonder why.
"I hear the EDC director is also stepping down."
You are correct - Jeanne Gustafson is leaving Champaign County EDC.
"Looks like a job for Imani Bazzell."
She'll start with a four-square chart. Next: Why IRS forms are inherently biased.
Could Terry Parsons be the person Prussing wants ?
GREAT INFO....what is the story behind that JUDGEMENT for $47,000? Anybody risk the thought police visit and question this......would be interesting to find out?
I called into WEFT this morning and ask Parsons, " Have you been ask to be the Deputy Mayor in Urbana?" He responded that he had not been asked, I then asked " If you are asked would you take the job?" He responded that he had not had a vacation in 3 years, He danced around a straight answer. We will see.
Gregg,
Prussing has said that the candidate she has in mind is from out of town. Her first choice is not Tracy Parsons, and I doubt she's talked to him about it since he's not her first choice.
There is no conspiracy here.
I was just doing some investigating. No conspiracy theories here , just some coincindences. Lets all enjoy the Illini win and celebrate Veterans Day on Sunday.
Actually, not to be rude, but doesn't "investigating" mean research, not just throwing ideas out and then waiting for others to work to confirm or deny them?
Anon 3:20-
Isn't it possible, JUST POSSIBLE, that Mr. Parsons paid the judgement out of his own private assets? I am white and not a member of the Urban League (although I have attendee a few public functions there), but I am offended by the implication that Mr. Parsons would have misused organizational assets to settle his private debt.
Just curious as to the nature of the $47,000..which to me seems like a substantial sum of money. Is it just me or does the term."..OFFENDED", get bandied around loosely today?
$47,000 is a substantial sum of money to me, too. If memory serves correctly from the story in last Sunday's N-G, this was a sum Mr. Parsons and his partner were sued for regarding an incomplete commercial lease. Anon. 3:20 could have gone to the library to look this up, but I guess it's more sporting to impugn people over the internet.
Or do you find rumor-mongering acceptable?
I had a higher opinion of you, JohnBoy.
Was I wrong?
OH my gosh...I am "offended"!
For one who hopes,,,,,,,,,get prepared to be offended then,,,,,,,>
I just heard Sandra Jones named interim Director of CCUL.
She will be working free gratis,,,,,,,,they are really in financial trouble,,,,,,,they are lucky to have her in a postion to work for free. Parsons left them in great shape! One thing I cannot quite understand,,,,,is Dimit at the RPC,,,,,,,hired most of the laid off employees,,,,,but some of them were fired for cause and still were hired to run the same program. That just doe's not make any sense to me. One of them was that Davis guy that ran the Housing Authority and got in trouble for pulling that gun on his girlfriend and another man.