This is a comment from Susan Guest regarding the meeting tonight of the Board of Supervisors, in which Mr. Baughan will report on the progress of the Economic Development Authority. It refers to the invitation to speak at the work session:
Regarding the possibility of asking questions of Mr. Baughan, Susan says:
“I was assured in writing that the three page resolution and one page detailing ‘costs’ was all the documentation that existed in response to the following FOIA request:
FOIA request: “Please provide all written documentation which details ‘costs’ associated with turning the Hudson farm into an operating industrial park as well as all documents that demonstrate the County’s and/or Economic Development Authority’s ability to repay all financial obligations incurred in conjunction with ‘Project Clover.’
‘Costs’ are defined below. Documents in support of ‘ability to repay’ would include commitments on the part of third parties for grant funding, lease or other financial arrangements with tenants, and all other sources of funds anticipated to ensure the County’s and/or Economic Development Authority’s financial obligations concerning Project Clover are met. Please also provide all documents detailing contingency funding sources as might be required through ’stress test’ analysis. An example of ’stress test’ is provided in ‘Purchase Agreement’ when the sale of the land is presumed to satisfy any balance owed Ms. Hudson in the event of default. Please provide the documentation in support of the sale of the land being capable of satisfying any outstanding monies owed her – for example, recent real estate comps that support the ability to obtain $6.5MM from the sale of the land – as well as documentation as to next steps should sale of said land not satisfy any outstanding balance.”
Note: The response to this request consisted of a one page list of costs of the land, totalling $11.8M with the infrastructure buildout. PLUS, a 3-page resolution of the Board of Supervisors saying they would support the purchase.
This means that if I did not receive information in support of any of the above, that it does not exist. (In other words, a FOIA request must be answered legally, so if the documents were not provided, it is safe to assume they do not exist.) I suppose the only surprise is the $11.8MM pricetag but there’s no need to worry about payment because the Board supports the EDA’s project and the Board has been repeatedly told that taxpayer funds will not be used to pay for the project. (This was meant to be tongue- in- cheek sarcasm, in case it isn’t clear. It should be made clear that just because the Board was told no taxpayer money would be used, can not make it so. If there is no source of commercial funding, THEN taxpayer money WILL be used. )
Now you’ve been told what is good for Page County and how it will be achieved so don’t burden yourself with details or worry. You’ve also been told that you are ‘unpatriotic’ if you do not support the plan – right out of Goebbel’s (whoops ) playbook! Wands will be waved to help you sleep well, and Authorities and Supervisors Will Make It So. Heckuvajob, Brownie!! But no one could have anticipated…we underestimated, we didn’t know…y’know, the kinda stuff that lands the commoner in jail…but lets Authorities walk with a shrug toward apology…
It’s too painful for me to see eloquently delivered, authoritarian ’shut ups’ that silence questions and put down the questioner so that they stop asking…I have a lot of experience in this arena and am sad to bear witness to it again and so won’t.
There’s a person or two who don’t like Kool Aide in every crowd. Pay close attention to what happens to them on their journey to Truth.
Susan Guest
Alice’s comment: It is not enough to be told something is so. If there are no snow clouds, there will be no snow. If there is no commercial project, there will be no money to pay for this venture, and YOU, the taxpayer, will be left holding the bag. When it happens, you will hear the Board say, “oh, gee, we could not have anticipated.” THAT is bull crap. It is that simple. Mr. Baughan, I have no more questions for you. The information has been delivered. It was ZILCH.
July 7, 2009 at 5:59 pm
What, no one has anything to say? Excuse me?
So am I reading all this correctly. Mostly none of what the BoS and EDA said to the public about the hudson purchase is true and the County Fathers and Mother have too much pride to realize that not only is this a really bad deal, but old Carpetbagger Tom, found all the legal holes in the County’s system and stuck it to them hard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpetbagger
Let me see, first you take a box, then you cut a hole in the box, then you put 19.3 million dollars worth of junk in the box and whamo you have an industrial size screw up . Did I see this on SNL one night?
Bravo to the man with the chrome jewels. He is smarter than everyone. It will be all good Tom, PTS will still love your for other gifts you gave them, Phone Contract, IT Contract, Land, and the $300k. With all relationships there are always set backs. I am sure you will find more ways to line their pockets before the year is out. Keep up the faith, Vegas odd are in your favor 10 to 1.
Cheers
BM
July 7, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Well summarized, Bernie. That’s about the gist of it.
July 7, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I drove my pickup truck to collect the documents I thought would be awaiting me in response to my FOIA request. It was truly laughable to pick up 5 pages. But the nature of the behind closed door dealings is that you are not respected as a person paying for this deal, nor as a concerned citizen requesting backup information regarding ability to pay. You are presumed stupid. Get it, Page County, Virginia? Supervisors. Authority. Language is VERY important. Who are YOU? A taxpayer and a consumer. Keep paying those taxes and consuming. And leave it to Supervisors and Authority to tell you what’s good for you. And what you will pay for. Munch on this $11.8 million dollar dinner.
July 8, 2009 at 3:54 am
Speaking of documentation. I’ve been collecting some. It’s been costing me big bucks, because our county government charges me hours of time to find and copy things. But I’m about to post it on the main site at http://www.pagecountywatch.org
It will go with my “political ad” response to Mr. Baughan’s “explanation” in the Page News and Courier. My response will be printed today. Please go to the main site to read the documentation.
July 8, 2009 at 8:40 am
If Page County’s Economic Development Office was really genuine and trying to market this property to businesses, don’t you think a logical first step might be to LIST the property on their own web site under “Industrial Properties”? As of today, there’s no mention of it….
July 8, 2009 at 9:28 am
It’s not on the State of Virginia’s site either
http://virginiascan.yesvirginia.org/site_selection/ComprehensiveSearch.aspx
Only property listed is the Luray Industrial Park.
July 8, 2009 at 9:17 am
A logical first step would have been to obtain letters of commitment from businesses that intended to locate in Page County, Virginia, which would justify the purchase price and infrastructure buildout totalling $11.8MM which could then be turned over to potential lenders to justify this deal. But what I’m learning is that cost does not matter when it’s public money. It’s an endless, bottomless pit, and when people are tapped out, you just take their property to satisfy the need for more money!! It’s a GREAT gig. Four people behind closed doors could have set the price at $100 million and seized property to satisfy the pricetag. Will anyone hear, again, me say that this is the furthest thing from democracy that exists? But The People do not make the rules, right? Go home now and obey your orders. And PAY.