By Stephenie Steitzer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COVINGTON - The Northern Kentucky Community Center owes the Ludlow bingo hall and another bingo company nearly $50,000 for hall rental, equipment and supplies since December.

This was news to four members of the board of directors, who called a public meeting Saturday asking the community's help in reorganizing the center.

Ludlow hall co-owner Darrell Coppedge, and Eric Lewis, owner of Mr. Bingo, said the community center made substantial money through the games. Both men said recently fired executive director Rollins Davis gave them bad checks from three different accounts.

"Yes, you made money; yes, somebody pilfered the money," Lewis told the board.

The four members say they don't know how much money the center has, if any, or where it is because the former chairman and director will not turn over the center's financial records.

The center, in the heart of the city's African-American community at 824 Greenup St., remains locked and programs are discontinued. Utilities were shut off May 28 because of unpaid bills.

The board fired Davis and board chairman Clifford Cooper May 20 for mismanagement of the organization, but neither has accepted the vote to remove them.

The board is nonetheless trying to save the center, based in the old Lincoln Grant School building. The center has provided child care in the past, as well as programs for youth and senior citizens.

"We've got children that need somewhere to go," board treasurer Charles Fann said. "We've got senior citizens that need a place to go."

The board members apologized to the community for letting the center close, and said they allowed Davis and Cooper to misinform them.

"We were trumped," board member William Walker said. "We were told we weren't getting money because we are African-American. They played the race card."

Walker said the board has talked to the city and the United Way, which pulled its funding in 2001, citing poor management practices and unacceptable record keeping.

He said both entities want to work with the center once the board is able to settle its problems.

"The city told us yesterday that the community center is vital to the east side and they will do all they can to help us," Walker said.

Davis has accused the United Way and other community agencies and leaders of trying to make the community center fail because it is primarily used by African-Americans.

Fann said the board's priorities are to turn the lights back on at the center, figure out how much money the center has and where it is and regain the trust of the community, city leaders and United Way.

"This board has the fire and the will to effect change," he said.

John Fisher, who served on the board 10 years ago when Davis was hired, said he and other former members want to help save the center.

"I do think this was a positive first step to getting the community center back together," he said.

Board member Pat Williams urged the community to form an independent citizens group to demand change from the board. She said that since the board of directors of the non-profit center is closed to the public, a separate group that could speak to the board with one voice would serve as a watchdog to the board.

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E-mail ssteitzer@enquirer.com