Brent Goik, who has worked as golf pro of the Essexville, Mich., property and recreation manager for the county since 2007, was fired on February 11, when Goik allegedly “admitted to knowledge of fraudulent activity.” An investigation is ongoing and the county is seeking a new recreation manager.
Bay County is seeking new recreation manager after Brent Goik, who has worked as golf pro of Bay County Golf Course in Essexville, Mich., and recreation manager since 2007, was fired February 11, according to a termination letter. In that letter, it said Goik “admitted to knowledge of fraudulent activity” and attempted to “conceal that activity throughout the 2015 golf season,” the Bay City (Mich.) Times reported.
About two weeks prior, Goik, 38, provided information to Cristen Gignac, director of the county’s Recreation and Facilities Department, about the unauthorized sale of “mini golf membership cards.” He was placed on administrative leave on January 29 following the meeting with Gignac, the Times reported.
Mini golf membership cards are good for five or 10 rounds of golf at a reduced rate at the county course throughout the season, Gignac said. The county “has not and will not” sell the cards for the 2016 golf season, Gignac said.
Bay County Executive Thomas Hickner said when the county was made aware of the alleged fraudulent activity, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office was contacted to launch an investigation. Investigators at the sheriff’s office knew Goik, Hickner said, and handed the investigation over to the Michigan State Police in order to avoid any conflicts of interest, the Times reported.
Hickner declined to comment on specifics of the fraudulent activity. He said Goik had an opportunity to appeal his termination, but hasn’t made that request to date.
Lt. David Kaiser of the Michigan State Police Tri-City Post confirmed the investigation, saying troopers examined about a year’s worth of alleged fraud centered around the illegal sale of county golf membership cards. Kaiser said Goik is a suspect in the case, the Times reported.
Goik is a Bay City golf prodigy, who in 2011 was inducted into the Bay County Sports Hall of Fame. He spent six years as assistant pro at The Fortress in Frankenmuth before returning to the Bay County Golf Course in 2007 as head pro and recreation manager for the county, the Times reported.
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