Friday, May 7, 2010

Time to return fire

Apparently Mr. Karl Banks has been upset over my previous posts on his land dealings and votes in Madison County. I've been called a "coward" and "unfit for humanity". I found the last term funny coming from someone who was arrested for domestic violence in 2002. Last time I checked, I was never accused of beating my wife. However, I digress.

It seems some think I've been accusing Mr. Banks of "profiting" from his land. I've done no such thing for one very simple reason. Until Mr. Banks actually leases or sells his land, he makes no profit on the land, a fact that seems to escape some reporters, although he does earn a larger tax bill on reassessment if the value has increased.

I have reported the land belonged to members of the Banks family before 2005. However in 2005 Mr. Banks and his brother Fred formed an LLC that took title to the property in question. Property two thousand feet away from Calhoun Station Parkway and adjacent to the site for a proposed water park. I don't think there is anything shady about Mr. Banks owning land. Its been my contention that too many black leaders push a liberal theme of government dependency that has harmed the black community so I am all for someone like Karl Banks leading by example and putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to earning a living.

Where I have the problem is Mr. Banks voting on anything pertaining to Calhoun Station Parkway and the water park (which the school board declined to approve). Although those are not his properties, it is quite clear they will increase the market value of his adjacent land, something he can not fail to notice. It would be no different than a supervisor in 1965 owning a large tract of land two thousand feet from E. County Line Road and then voting for every motion that came before the Board to expand the road, install water, sewer, and other utilities, and make other improvements that would open up his land for development. Mr. Banks voted over 15 times for such motions.

The issue is not Mr. Banks owning land but whether it is ethical, even if legal, for him to cast these votes and in many cases, propose the motions himself. It is my contention such votes are not ethical and therefor grounds for calling for his resignation. Governor Mabus tried to fire General Farmer for similar issues twenty years ago. I thought his logic was sound then and think it is sound now as Mr. Banks sits in a position of public trust and should avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. As stated earlier, Mr. Banks is well within his rights to own such land. However, he should have recused himself for any such votes to avoid any appearance of such a conflict.

It is also my opinion Mr. Banks broke the law by not disclosing on his economic interest form his ownership in Miller Banks Realty and any land holdings associated with the company. It is regrettable the other supervisors, including gadfly D.I. Smith, were silent when this arose at the meeting Monday. However, I still stand by my earlier position regardless of Mr. Banks insults and diatribes.

Earlier Post, Earlier Post I

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your article seems very reasoned and factual.... and I agree, he should not be allowed to vote on such projects.

appears he doesnt like all the attention.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree. Looks like we need the feds to investigate Madison County again since AGAIN the local and state authorities dropped the ball.

Anonymous said...

Keep up the good work, JJ. There is absolutely nothing wrong with reporting the facts. Banks just didn't want it known he owned the land. Too bad, so sad. If he isn't doing anything wrong, why is Banks calling you names and complaining?

stilettoGOP said...

Agree as well. What was written here was factual, analytical, and with a valid platform of concern, ethics.

On the other hand, was someone who frankly sounded like a hissy fit on a playground. Just resorted to name calling. -and at the WRONG kid.

Anonymous said...

Banks has also committed voter fraud. Let's hop on that one, too!

If he wants to talk about cowardly individuals, he should put himself at the top of the list.

Ironghost said...

Heck, I thought it was well written the first time we read about Mr Banks.

Anonymous said...

The whole board should have been cleaned out when all went down a few years ago with David Richardson and etc. but oh no they believed corruption was only with just Richardson, now who is the jike on?

Anonymous said...

Having read your previous posts on this land ownership issue and the declarations and voting behavior of Karl Banks it seems that Karl Banks has not challenged the facts you exposed.

What if the land had been sold at a loss 4 months ago. Would that in any way change the propriety of the actions apparently exposed?

What if a through the proper means said land had been foreclosed four months ago, and all ownership interest of Mr. Karl Banks and any of his relations and business associates in this land was lost. Would that in any way excuse what the facts appear to have exposed in these alleged dealings?

The actual profits being realized are just the final step in the chain of events, and even if the profits are never realized,that changes nothing about what has apparently been done.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 3:14. If Mr. Karl Banks has a problem with Kingfish bringing this issue into the light of day, then why doesn't Mr. Banks just publicly show the information to be false, and prove that what he has done is entirely, properly legal for a board member? Instead of throwing a childish temper tantrum?

Just show the world you are in the right on this, Karl, and it will all go away.

Anonymous said...

Why would the Madison County Journal even put Karl Bank's childish temper tantrum IN PRINT? Looks like the new management is even worse than the last at the paper.

Keep on Karl. We'll get the truth out now.............

Anonymous said...

Does Robbie Bell still work for the MCJ?

Her email address/contact information is on the advertisement rate form on the paper's website. In my eyes, this could deter potential advertisers. I certainly wouldn't place an ad with this publication.

Anonymous said...

Talk about "unfit for humanity":

Robbie L. Bell,
Associate Publisher

Anonymous said...

As others have stated, it matters not that the water park is a "no go". Karl voted on something that would have been of economic benefit to himself. He should be asked to resign.

Anonymous said...

asked... he should be forced out. And if laws were broken, he should be prosecuted.

another corrupt low-life helping to keep our state firmly in last place in the good lists, and first in the bad.

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised watson put together such a sloppy piece without even cont acting you for response. He's better than that.

Anonymous said...

I say let the Ethics Commission settle it! Who's filing?

Anonymous said...

Early on Supervisor Karl Banks seemed to know the right thing to do--

See Madison County Board of Supervisors minutes Jun 25, 2004, page 15 of 24:

In re: Calhoun Station Parkway, Phase One
WHEREAS, Mr. Karl M. Banks did state that he was recusing himself from further consideration, discussion and deliberation of this matter due to the fact that he owned an interest in certain real estate located along, adjoining or adjacent to the proposed parkway as extended, and

Anonymous said...

10:36 AM May 8:

Good find that there.

That is embarrassing for Supervisor Karl Banks.

That is incriminating; Supervisor Banks apparently knew what to do and why, and then forgot, or for some other reason decided to do what he previously knew he should not do.

Those darn anonymous bloggers.

That's why we should no have minutes and public records. Or if we do have minutes and public records, better have honest pols then.

Anonymous said...

You spineless, cowardly BLOGGERS!

Anonymous said...

Oops... he did it again!

For Searching Reference Only: Page 11 of 16 (6/18/04)

In re: Consideration of Proposed Calhoun Station Parkway
WHEREAS, Board Attorney Edmund L. Brunini did appear before the Board and announced he had a recommendation for the Board’s consideration concerning the proposed Calhoun Station Parkway, and

WHEREAS, upon such announcement, Mr. Karl M. Banks did state that he was recusing himself from the consideration, discussion and deliberation of said matter due to the fact that he owned an interest in certain real estate located along, adjoining or adjacent to the proposed parkway as extended, and

WHEREAS, Mr. Banks then excused himself from the meeting, physically departed the Board room, and requested to be notified upon the conclusion of the matter, and

WHEREAS, after the departure of Mr. Banks, Mr. Brunini did state that it was his recommendation that the Board void the contract entered into by the Board of Supervisors as previously constituted with engineer Rudy M. Warnock pertaining to said project and that the Board afford Mr. Brunini the opportunity to prepare an improved contract form, specifying, inter alia, that only such design and construction work as required by the Mississippi Development Authority in connection with the Nissan project be performed as to Calhoun Parkway, and

WHEREAS, Mr. Brunini did further recommend that County Administrator Donnie Caughman correspond with Mr. Warnock and instruct him to cease work on said project and provide the Board with whatever work product has been generated heretofore by him and his firm and subcontractors, if any,

Following discussion, Mr. Andy Taggart did move and Mr. Tim Johnson did second a motion to declare void the aforesaid contract with Rudy Warnock pertaining to Calhoun Station Parkway as never having been ratified by this Board and to instruct County Administrator Donnie Caughman to correspond with Mr. Warnock and instruct him to cease work on said project and provide the Board with whatever work product has been generated heretofore by him and his firm and subcontractors, if any. The vote on the matter being as follows:

Supervisor Douglas L. Jones Aye
Supervisor Tim Johnson Aye
Supervisor Andy Taggart Aye
Supervisor Karl M. Banks Not Present and Not Voting
Supervisor Paul Griffin Aye

the matter carried by the unanimous vote of those present and the aforesaid contract with Mr. Warnock pertaining to Calhoun Station Parkway was and is hereby declared void, and the County Administrator was and is hereby so directed.

SO ORDERED this the 18th day of June, 2004.

Thereafter, and following additional discussion, Mr. Andy Taggart did move and Mr. Paul Griffin did second a motion to instruct County Administrator Donnie Caughman to negotiate with Mr. Warnock and other engineers relative to the completion of design work on that portion of the Calhoun Station project which is mandated by the Mississippi Development Authority in connection with the Nissan project and to make a recommendation to the Board as to an appropriate engineer to complete the design on said project. The vote on the matter being as follows:

Supervisor Douglas L. Jones Aye
Supervisor Tim Johnson Aye
Supervisor Andy Taggart Aye
Supervisor Karl M. Banks Not Present and Not Voting
Supervisor Paul Griffin Aye

the matter carried by the unanimous vote of those present and the County Administrator was and is hereby so directed.
SO ORDERED this the 18th day of June, 2004.

http://madison-co.com/images/admin/pdfs/79_59827_june18-04.pdf

Anonymous said...

All of this is just lies! I only owned 9.4%!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Gadflies know other gadflies.



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.