The Ohio Inspector General’s Office requested a wide range of records related to the lease-purchase agreement for 31 Coventry Lane and the university’s relations with Athens realtor John Wharton.
The Ohio Inspector General’s Office requested additional records from Ohio University related to a March lease-purchase agreement of a new presidential home for OU President Roderick McDavis.
The request, which “exceeds the initial scope” of a request made by the office in April, includes various university records related to the president’s move to 31 Coventry Lane and the university’s relations with Athens realtor John Wharton.
The request is included in an Aug. 3 letter from Ohio Deputy Inspector General Rebekeh L. Wolcott to OU’s Office of Legal Affairs and stipulates that the university provide the records by Sept. 4.
The Inspector General’s Office cannot confirm whether or not it is currently investigating the university.
“It is the policy of the Office of the Ohio Inspector General however, to neither discuss open investigations nor confirm or deny whether an investigation exists,” Carl Enslen, state deputy inspector general, said in an email. “Discussion or comment may occur after a report of investigation is officially issued.”
The university also will not comment on the matter “until after the Inspector General concludes his review,” OU spokeswoman Bethany Venable said in an email.
The Ohio University Foundation, OU’s fundraising arm, entered into a $1.2 million lease-purchase agreement on March 19 for the new presidential home, according to a previous Post report.
The university leased the property from Wharton, who verbally agreed with OU Director of Athletics Jim Schaus that — as part of the lease-purchase agreement — he would pay the rest of the money he pledged to the Walter Fieldhouse and donate an additional $100,000.
The university backed out of the purchase agreement in April because Wharton’s agreement created a “problematic” situation for the university. Steven Golding, OU’s vice president for Finance and Administration, said those tasked with finding a new home for McDavis did not know of Wharton’s agreement when they signed the lease-purchase contract.
The McDavises still live at 31 Coventry Lane, which costs the university a monthly rent of $4,318 and includes $75,000 in furniture.
In April, the Inspector General’s Office request included all records related to 31 Coventry Lane and donations or pledges made by Wharton.
This time, the office requested more records, including the following since Jan. 1, 2014:
Copies of all meeting agendas and minutes for McDavis’ Executive Staff, the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration and Office of Real Estate Management that references presidential housing, 29 Park Place, 31 Coventry Lane and John Wharton and his associated companies; Copies of all meeting agendas and minutes for the Ohio University Foundation Board of Trustees and Executive Committee.
Copies of all policies, procedures and directives related to OU’s donation and pledge process, real estate acquisition and lease processes.
A list of all real-estate purchases and lease agreements entered into by OU and the OU Foundation with companies owned by Wharton.
The office also requested the following records since Jan. 1, 2015:
Copies of all emails, memos and correspondence for Schaus, Division of University Advancement Bryan Benchoff and Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Director for Development Ryan White regarding presidential housing and Wharton.
Copies of all agreements entered into by OU with the OU Foundation involving 29 Park Place and 31 Coventry Lane; Copies of all agreements entered into by the Board of Trustees and McDavis related to housing.
Information related to the university’s decision to relocate McDavis and search for a new presidential residence.
In addition, the office requested the university preserve all communication related to presidential housing and the lease-purchase agreement since Jan. 1, 2014. The letter also asked OU to identify if any requested records had been destroyed pursuant to a records retention policy.
— Megan Henry contributed to this report.
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