'If the county judge doesn't call for a thorough, official investigation of this matter she is derelict in her duties. It's time to take a stand in "Little Chicago"'
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Editor's Note: Commenters (below) have started weighing in on a plan by Pct. 3 Commissioner Will Conley to have the county purchase the old Wimberley Baptist Church property for $2.4 million and convert it into a city/county government center. Lots of questions and concerns have been raised, not the least of which involve the role of the central appraisal district, non-transparency, and the names and roles of local investors who could turn a handsome profit if the commissioners court and Wimberley City Council extend their blessing.
For details see Charles O'Dell's eye-opening and well documented investigative report in the RoundUp's October 2008 archives, dated Oct. 5.
Here's an excerpt: Wimberley Crossroads LLC consists mostly of Wimberley insiders, some of whom are reported to be members of the Wimberley First Baptist Church (WFBC), so the sale can’t be considered “arms length.” As if to emphasize that, Michael D. Stevens, a Wimberley attorney represented both sides of the transaction between WFBC and Wimberley Crossroads LLC.
Martin. T. Fulfer, co-manager of Wimberley Crossroads LLC, holds a 30 percent interest in the church property. His Wimberley realty company, Star Realty, is handling the proposed $2.4 million sale to the county and stands to receive a six percent commission.
Conley's proposal is scheduled to be on the Wimberley city council's Jan. 15, 2009 meeting agenda.
Add your comment: The RoundUp encourages reasoned comments from readers of all stripes. Thus far neither the county nor the city appear eager for input from the taxpaying citizens who'll be footing the bill. As we all know, the public comment portion comes after all the official handshakes have taken place largely out of public view. So have at it, if you want to give a ringing endorsement to Conley's church plan, call it a pig in a poke, ask questions, or express your general outrage.
Anonymous said...
I hope the Judge and the rest of the commissioners are strong enough to derail this pay-to-play plan. I've begun calling Hays County by it's true name: "Little Chicago."
I don't know why Judge Sumter didn't derail this idea a year ago. She authorized the initial and subsequent monies to be spent in exploring this idea Conley hatched. And why wasn't this issue publicly raised by Conley's opponent in the last election?
City administrator Ferguson has a civil suit brought against him by a local woman for allegedly covering up an allegation of sexual harassment in the City of Wimberley's offices. He needs to be no part of this church plan as I feel he should be suspended from his current city duties.
Also, Dr. O'Dell has and is uncovering more and more information on the behind-the-scenes efforts of this church story: the Judge would be wise to investigate all of his findings. He is alleging that there has been some serious financial irregularities in this church deal.
I feel this whole church deal will unravel like a house of cards. It's a pay-to-play deal in my opinion. If the judge doesn't call for a thorough, official investigation of this matter she is derelict in her duties. It's time to take a stand in "Little Chicago."
I have been out of county for some time, so perhaps this has been explored/tabled, etc., but I have wondered if there has been any movement to secure the property as a place where the kids of our community could gather when not in school?
Originally touted to include facilities for the village's youth as part of its design when the pitch was made for community support, the Community Center failed as it ultimately left them out. After taking a tour this past summer, I was extremely disappointed that while there was a great, well designed posh area including a fireplace, for seniors to play cards and gather, and an over sized gymnasium sized area for meetings, there was nothing for the kids at all.
I, too, hope it does not become a city/county government center, for all the reasons you've listed. I believe our community's youth are our most under served population. And the Baptist church facility seems like it could become a state of the art center. Yes, these are economically challenging times, but grants and community will still exist.
Any feedback? Has this been explored by any single or collective of groups?
Note: I am closer to being a senior than I am a kid, have kids too old to be served by such a facility but see serving that sector of the population as paramount to the health of the overall community.
Call me a dreamer.