The Kemper Center president and executive director have both been ousted from the organization in the last month, KCE can report. The board also had some four sudden resignations from other board members. The board has now flipped and has a completely new makeup. With all of these changes, Kemper insiders tell KCE that the public can expect more transparency and bold changes that will benefit the center’s mission statement “to preserve the historic nature of our site and buildings, offer programs that promote an understanding of local history and arts, and provide a historic setting for cultural, recreational, and educational activities.”
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
County Board Supervisor Daniel Gaschke, was appointed to be the Kemper Center’s executive director less than five months ago. In this short time, insiders tell us, he did a sub par job. KCE told you about the secrecy and cronyism that lead to Gaschke’s appointment to the position. Gaschke was appointed to the position by then-president of the board, Patricia Mott. She did so at the urging of the outgoing executive director, Ed Kubicki, also a County Board Supervisor at the time.
The buildings that encompass the Kemper Center, are owned by the Kenosha County taxpayers and the over $100,000 in utilities are also on the backs of the County residents. Many found Kubicki and Gaschke to be improperly working for a non-profit that was funded in large part, by the government they represent. They essentially gave money to a non-profit that ended up in their own wallets. An opinion was written in 2005 by then-Wisconsin Attorney General Peggy Lautenschlager to former Kenosha County Corporation Counsel Frank Volpintesta. The opinion prohibited any county board supervisor from being employed by anyone receiving money from Kenosha County. Kenosha County Corporation Counsel Joey Cardamone penned an opinion that rivaled that of the AG at the request of former County Executive Jim Kreuser to allow Kubicki to take the job.
At the time of Gaschke’s appointment, Kemper Board member and Kenosha County Supervisor Laura Belsky raised objections to the lack of transparency surrounding Gaschke’s appointment, questioning why the position was not opened up to the public for applications. Belsky, along with fellow board member Frank Sartor, took issue with the rushed vote and apparent disregard for the organization’s bylaws.
KCE is told that the search for the next executive director will be transparent and “by the book.” The job will be posted and the new director will be selected very carefully. Long-time Kemper administrator Robin Ingrouille will be the center’s interim executive director. Jason Rasch is the current interim board president. Recently, the board noticed that Patricia Mott a Kemper alumni, was making decisions unilaterally without the board’s consent. The board then voted to remove her from the board, an unprecedented move that signaled a rogue president. There are also reports suggesting that Mott may have engaged her son-in-law’s firm to handle the Kemper Center accounting, raising concerns about favoritism and ethical impropriety.
Mott was openly non-transparent and when she hired Gaschke, and instructed the board not to speak with KCE writing in a March 27, 2024 email, writing, in part, “I just wanted all of you to be aware that you will probably be contacted by Kevin Mathewson in some manner in regards to Daniel coming on board as Director at Kemper. It would be in everyone’s best interest to ignore his rants when contacted to not further the “untruths” he is trying to spread. You do not need to respond. Daniel, Ed, and I have discussed this situation and feel that it is best to disregard Kevin and not get involved.”
They didn’t listen to her, because she has no such authority. KCE is told that the board, under its new leadership is extremely optimistic that it will find a qualified director that will be a solid fundraiser, unlike Gaschke and Kubicki, who were very poor at fundraising and canceled some of the center’s most important events over the last several years.
Although Gaschke framed his departure as a “resignation,” KCE is told the writing was on the wall that his time was numbered. Board members asked Gaschke for simple, readily available documents, like profit and loss statements and other documents. He was slow to provide the board with these documents that they asked for in their oversight roles. He was hesitant to cooperate, perhaps because the documents detailed his shortcomings as the director.
In Gaschke’s “resignation letter” he says in part, “I am proud of my accomplishments over the last few months, including helping to oversee and begin implementing a refresh of the Kemper & Anderson Arts Center’s branding, website, and social media.”
Gaschke cut a large check to “Dooley and Associates,” to “rebrand” the center, who did all the work that wasn’t popular according to sources. KCE is told the check had many zeros on it. KCE asked Gaschke some pointed questions. He didn’t respond, but sent us his “resignation letter” that we were already in possession of.
“Gaschke essentially quit before he was fired,” said a Kemper insider. “That wasn’t an honorable thing to do.” The insider, however, wants the County taxpayers to know that “only good things are to come at Kemper and the Anderson Art Center. This was addition by subtraction.”
36 Responses
Hey this change sounds so liberal I want to cheer! Thanks for reporting. Gives me hope.
President Harris!
Why oh why, is pride of one’s self so low? One would think Kubicki especially would want his name (and family) to be clear of any negativity? And yet, not!
Maybe bright days for Kemper will show up soon!
Thank you Kevin.
Will KCE have a year in review?
the downvotes are from previously featured turds
I wouldn’t trust that grubby looking bastard to help run a lemonade stand.
He now is even more unKempt. LOL!
Every thing at Kemper Center is done behind close door meetings that taxpayers are paying for, that needs to change!
Kenosha County needs to require an independent forensic audit be done before anymore taxpayer funds are contributed.
I’d love to see a profit and loss statement to see how much the taxpayers of Kenosha have paid over the years towards that antiquated mausoleum
Push it down and build luxury condos/apartments. Large profits to be made on that land.
Since 1978, the county has contributed over $3 million in grants to the center.
The county has paid over $17,000,000 in upkeep of the buildings.
Laura Belsky sits on the Kemper board, appointed as the Kenosha County board representative, and she sits on the Kenosha Public Market board. Their winter market contract with Kemper was terminated because of the raw deal Kemper got. But now it seems that Laura’s cronies are in charge. Hmmmm. Transparency? Can’t wait to see where that winter market ends up and how much they pay for it.
THanks for the post, I further investigated this comment. The public market contract was not terminated by the Kemper Board of Directors. It was terminated by Ed Kubicki and Pat Mott unilaterally. The market has a contactat with Kemper Center Inc. for $12,000 for a short season. This will brings thousands of people to view the historic site.
Thanks! What was the contract for last year and the year before…if you happen to know? $461 a week isn’t exactly a windfall for Kemper. Is this financially responsible for Kemper?
One Saturday Wedding would generate 2-3 thousand dollars for hall rental, plus Chapel rental, Bar Sales, linen sales, equipment rental.
And yet Kemper Center Inc can’t seem to book many weddings and other events. Sad when they are known as the “funeral luncheon” place.
That’s what happens when you hire people not qualified to be the executive director of an event venue.
Explain to me how a retired firefighter is qualified for the position? It’s called Democrats using tax dollars to pay back their Democrat friends.
Exactly! Why is Kemper not the Number 1 wedding venue in southeastern Wisconsin? It’s perfect for weddings. Why are there not at least 2 weddings per week at this place year round?
The Kenosha Public Museum and the Civil War Museum have event rental prices on their websites. Why doesn’t Kemper Center provide this information to taxpayers on its website?
The most recent Kemper Center, Inc. IRS filing is from 2021 and it shows only 2 public events, but $100,134.00 in “Donated services and use of facilities.” Let’s just say each of these events is $4,000.00 in costs. That’s 25 events, or 2 each month. Which individuals or groups are getting these “donations” from a facility in a Kenosha County park? See for yourself right here: https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/396271772_202112_990_2023051921272947.pdf
It sounds like someone wanted to take it over in a power play. They should run it and pay for repairs..any shortfall and get it of the taxpayer dime. It is a pink elephant. Its yours now…
Once Again, the unhinged evil Left unjustly accuses their opposition (Kevin Mathewson in this case) of doing what they have already done.
Kevin deserves a Medal for ‘Rant’ing the Truth of their UNTRUTH .
Couldn’t stand any of those people and worse yet the lot before them. I haven’t supported anything involving the Kemper Center for years because of the way the board behaved, treating a county landmark like their own private fiefdom. That crap has been going on there for last 20 years.
Kemper Center is the perfect example of how our tax dollars are funneled only to government employees and elected officials. We’re 40 years into funding this thing and what do the taxpayers get from it? Why hasn’t it been turned into a viable, constantly-rented meeting/event facility, which is what was proposed all those years ago? Ask yourselves why there isn’t—and never has been—a price list for rentals or a booking calendar on Kemper Center’s website so taxpayers can see for themselves if it’s ever rented or if it’s just a private clubhouse that we pay for but never get to use or enjoy. It would be great to find out just how many times it’s used for private events for local government functions that none of us taxpayers know about or are invited to. Can we Kenosha County taxpayers use Kemper’s facilities for free (like public library rooms)? 40 years is long enough to wait for a shred of transparency.
https://kenoshanews.com/opinion/voice_of_the_people/kemper-center-business-should-be-public-record/article_11c7d3e8-cb7a-5f1b-aef5-1d85ffc52980.html
Time to privatize Kemper Center when Kemper Center Inc’s lease is up. KCI has proven they don’t know how to run it and keep it off the tax roles, which is what they were supposed to do over 40 years ago. Taxpayers need to stop paying for this money pit.
Hey Kevin, any chance you can find out the exact amount paid to Dooley and Assoc. for the rebranding? I wonder if there was a kickback for doing business as there often is?
Better check Daniel’s house. He probably took from Kemper to put into his bogus music school
For once , could we please put a non-idiot in charge of this money pit ?
This site always has excellent investigations and reporting, but having
The 3 gazillion people named anonymous feature, needs to go.
Pick any name you like, but stick to it.
Dear ! says,
Your beef doesn’t make sense. Don’t use anonymous, but a “stage name” is OK?
Stormy Daniels
Actually, it does make sense. Posters can call themselves Moe, Larry and Curley, or Groucho, Harpo and Chico, or whatever they want. But when you have a long list of
“Anonymous” posters – especially when they start arguing with each other – it can get a little confusing. At least then you can tell the players apart.
thank you for the explanation.
Steffiny Clifford
don’t get confused
Will they sued to return the money they never should have received? Can we as the taxpayers of KC sue them?
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2019/01/29/public-records-court-rules-kemper-center-can-keep-its-finances-secret/2712427002/
Kevin, Forward Kenosha running cover for Daniel today. Me thinks there is some smoke to this story…