Friday, March 24, 2017

Interesting vote for Stonebridge.

 
Some good ole boy politicking apparently took place when the Stonebridge Public Improvement District was created.  The Brandon Board of Aldermen voted to approve the creation of the district. However, one of the Aldermen voted to approve the creation of the PID even though he worked for the developer of the PID.  Earlier post on bond default.


The city and Rankin County Board of Supervisors approved the creation of the Stonebridge PID.  Stonebridge sold $22 million bonds that were to be repaid through special assessments.  However, the bonds soon defaulted and the development stalled.  The taxes and assessments went unpaid.  The unsold properties were eventually forfeited to the Secretary of State.   Heartland Development and Green Hills Development were the Stonebridge developers.  Both companies are owned by Ben Turnage.

The Brandon Board of Alderman took up the Stonebridge resolution on February 6, 2007:

Every alderman present, including Grumpy Farmer, voted for the resolution: 



However, Mr. Farmer was also an employee of the developer and creator of the Stonebridge PID when he voted for the resolution.   He is currently the President of Performance Drilling.



Performance Drilling filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy several years ago. The company filed a disclosure statement as part of a plan of reorganization in the bankruptcy court on January 8, 2013.  It stated that Ben Turnage was the Manager and CEO of Performance Drilling until 2012 and is still the owner of the company through other LLC's.  This is the same Ben Turnage who owns Heartland Development and Green Hills Developers.  The disclosure plan states:

David G. (“Grumpy”) Farmer is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Performance and is directly responsible for all operations and staffing. Effective June 1, 2012, Mr. Farmer was appointed as Manager of both O&G and Performance and assumed all senior executive management responsibilities in addition to the operational authority he has always held with the Company. He managed construction of all five of the Company’s rigs, with completion of each on-time and within-budget. Mr. Farmer has over 25 continuous years of industry experience in drilling oil and gas wells throughout the ArkLaTex, Black Warrior and Gulf Coast Regions. Mr. Farmer started with Hughes Tool Company in 1981, later joining Smith International as a Regional Sales Manager in 1990. In 1999, Mr. Farmer formed DGFI, described more fully below, to further expand his services to Smith and its subsidiaries, along with his advisory work to major oil and gas operators, including BP/Amoco and Shell. He left Smith International in 2006 to join Performance. Mr. Farmer is highly regarded by and has many valuable relationships with operators and producers throughout the United States. Mr. Farmer’s current annual compensation is $222,000 (unchanged  since  2007), plus  health and dental insurance  and use  of  a  Company vehicle  provided by Performance.
Thus Mr. Farmer voted to create the Stonebridge PID while working for the developer.  Keep in mind that this document was submitted to the court by Performance Drilling. 

The development is currently the subject of a court fight with the Secretary of State, trustee, and Rankin County on one side and Turnage's company on the other.


Posted by Kingfish at 9:56 AM

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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.