Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Just a little case of Rankin County incest.

Kinfolk deals are still apparently a way of life in Rankin County. The leasing of some sixteenth section land in Rankin County turned into such a deal when business partners sat on both sides of the deal.  One partner represented the school board while the other represented the tenant.  Such is the way of things in Mississippi.

The lease agreement was signed by Rankin County School Board President Cecil McCrory, Rankin County Board of Supervisors President Greg Wilcox, RCSD Superintendent Dr. Lynn Weathersby, and Secretary of State Hibbit Hosemann on December 13, 2013.  The Rankin County School Board approved the lease at its December 11, 2013 meeting.  The site is a vacant lot on Government Street.


The lease states that PGM will lease the land from October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2038.  The initial lease will be $3,500 per year although it can be adjusted.  Posted below is the signature page of the lease.




Interesting.  Very interesting.  Interesting because the School Board President and Manager of PGM properties were both partners at Delux Auto Sales, Inc. when this lease was signed.  The information posted below is a screen shot of Delux Auto's corporate information posted on the Secretary of State's website (See p.16 in documents posted below.).  Cecil McCrory was President and Jeff Goodwin was Secretary of Delux. Remember, they both signed the lease agreement for the landlord and tenant.




Don't touch that mouse because there are more connections between both sides of the table. David "Grumpy" Farmer was a member of the school board in 2013 when the lease was signed.  Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Farmer are both employees at Performance Drilling.  Grumpy Farmer was the President while Mr. Goodwin served as the Chief Financial Officer in 2013 when the lease was signed.   Performance Drilling also submitted a plan of reorganization to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in January 2013 that stated Mr. Goodwin was the CFO and Mr. Farmer was the President (See p.18 posted below) of the company. Posted below as well is a screenshot of the website of Performance Drilling. Performance Drilling is owned by Ben Turnage.



 The Rankin County School Board approved the lease as part of the consent agenda at the December 13, 2013 meeting.  All members of the school board were present.  No one voted against the lease nor abstained from voting.
Thus it would seem Messrs. Farmer and McCrory  voted for the lease despite their connections to Jeff Goodwin.  The December 11, 2013 minutes state:



Thus two business associates of Mr. Goodwin voted for the lease while one of them signed the lease.  The phrase "conflict of interest" apparently is the new Latin as dead languages are rarely studied in Rankin County. 


Kingfish note: This post is not accusing anyone of any skullduggery.  The rent stated in the lease may indeed be fair market value.  However, the multiple connections between parties sitting on both sides of the table should be reported.   The Mississippi Way it would appear, permeates everything.  However, no accusations are made in this post as these are all honorable men.


29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dig a little deeper and you'll find their love for Gregg Harper.

Anonymous said...

Mississippi should form an Ethics Commission and State Auditor's Office.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 9:44 a.m. Who knows? Maybe we could get an AG and Secretary of State while we're at it.

Anonymous said...

Much to do about nothing in this post. 16th section land is leased to the highest bidder. If you don't know that property, it's a sh!t hole and I'd venture to say that no one else was interested in leasing it. Those guys are smart and will take an opportunity to make a dollar. Hey saw a piece of 16th section that wasn't being leased and decided to lease it. Rankin county is small and those guys all grew up together. Who would you prefer the school board lease it to? We're there any other bids higher than the $3500? That would be an issue if so.

Kingfish said...

I said it was a vacant lot. There is nothing there. I even said it was probably fair market value.

Of course, government ethics mean nothing to people such as yourself. There is a simple solution: You recuse yourself from the vote and signing the deal. There are still three school board members. Of course, if they do it on something insignificant such as this deal, then what about other ones?

Want to know why Mississippi is last in everything and is the most corrupt state? Go look in the mirror.

Anonymous said...

@10:24 - Because we will vote for anyone who calls themselves a Republican?

Anonymous said...

Much to do about nothing??? I beg to differ. It's wrong to have such a high conflict of interest. I grow weary of these. This must be Cecil McCrory, Grumpt Farmer or one of the numerous members of the Weathersby family that are employed at ridiculous salaries in RCSD or government.

Anonymous said...

A vacant lot they are paying $3500 a year lease on to the rankin county school board, seems like they are helping rcsd versus hurting it. A donation if you will. Who of those complaining will find a piece of land with nothing on it that you'll never own outright and pledge $3500 a year for? There very could be skeletons in the closet between some names mentioned, but this isn't. Want to find a real smoking gun king fish, why not find out why the attorneys office for the school board attorney burned right before all of that came out about Cecil?

Anonymous said...

Trust me when I say that Grumpy Farmer is a weathersby's worst nightmare. The only reason he is in the school board is/was to opposed Lynn Weathersby and his corruption. That's a noted fact and why he was elected.

Anonymous said...

If I'm not mistaken an appraisal must be made on all 16th land and the land will be offered based on market rent and not to the highest bidder. It would be interesting to see who provided the appraisal. May be more culprits involved than just the parties listed.

Anonymous said...


AMEN KINGFISH @ 10:24 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Remind me again as to why we had to pass a school bond in Rankin County, because they give away the 16th sec land a ridiculously low prices!

Anonymous said...

Mississippi is not last in everything, we are number one in obesity, corruption and charitable giving.

Anonymous said...

10:48, you are aware the R's have only been in charge since Fordice, right? Care to guess the party affiliation of Mussgrove or Mabus? The Legislature was all D until when? Problem ain't the parties. Problem is the politicians.

Anonymous said...

These are the same players from the Stonebridge subdivision deal

Anonymous said...

My question is who cares? Rankin County? Are you kidding? The place is small and you've got a couple of hustlers (McCrory & Goodwin), wow.

Yawn!

Anonymous said...

Kingfish, I'm a little confused as to why this is relevant? The board has changed drastically since 2013, as has the administration. Seems like old news? What exactly IS your purpose in this "news" item?

Anonymous said...

Anyone care to run down to the court clerk's office and read up on mineral rights on these lands? I bet you might find your smoking gun that I turned a blind eye to.

Drilling company....mineral rights.... drilling company.... mineral rights... Hmmmm I must be missing something.

Anonymous said...

KF--Are you including Cecil McCrory in your list of honorable men? I sometime have trouble with sarcasm

Anonymous said...

Hey pineapple boy at 2:10. Madison County population 94,00+, Rankin County population, 145,000+. Of course, if we are comparing faux brick, Madison wins...

Anonymous said...

What does it take for a regular person to get something done in Rankin county. I am told that if you are not in their club you will get voted down. Is this true or are some supervisors doing things based on the good of the county?

Pappy Odaniel said...

I tell you what, these guys are just incredible entrepeneurs. Land development, chicken processing, behavioral health, telecommunications, used cars, oil and gas...what can't these guys do? Rankin County is just fortunate to have such brilliance burrowed into every arm of government in the county. And Ben Turnage...no wonder he was paying himself 45k a month at his own company Performance Drilling...man is a regular Captain of Industry.

Anonymous said...

Rudy made more money off of the idiot leaders of Madison County than all of these Rankin yokels combined.

Anonymous said...

Family Values:

Nepotism is not just dishonorable but a way to insure that children never had a sense of their own worth and never owned their success.

Doing business with friends is the easiest way to ruin your friendships and reputation. If a friend needs help , make clear it's a gift and not an obligation and don't do it if it won't really solve whatever problem they have.

Needing a politician's favor is a weakness and admission you couldn't succeed on your own. Taking government tax dollars is a handout no matter why you took those dollars unless you return the value with your labor and skill.

A person should be like Caesar's wife...never put themselves in a position to have their honor questioned.

The end never justified the means. The means is everything. And if you can't win fair and square on your own merit, you are, in fact, a loser and a cheat.

To do other than the above is primitive tribalism and uncivilized.

But, when wealth is the only measure of success, such values disappear.







Anonymous said...

Hey 9:00pm, spoken like a classic fry cook at Wendy's (haven't been promoted to McDonald's yet) or should I say a typical MS pessimist. I want and so should you 100 Turnage's et al in this market and 500 around the state creating jobs and yes they make money. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

6:13 Your post is fitting of a sandwich artist with delusions of grandeur. Those market geniuses you speak of are really cranking out the &7.50-8:50/hour jobs--including your own.

Anonymous said...

Well dang,I was reared and educated in Rankin county but I'm not forming a posse with my graduatimg class and screwing the citizens of my home state. I'm not stealing from the generations that came after me and screwing them out of a grade A education. I had to fight the mighty board for my son to get half the education I received and it only took me two weeks to follow the money all the way to the gravel pits. It's about time McCroryville was returned to the citzens of Rankin county.

Anonymous said...

Anything Turnage is involved in needs to be looked at carefully....note the article in today's Decatur Daily about his poultry company hiring child labor! You aren't in MS anymore Turnage! You can't buy people!

Ricasaurus said...

This is not just an "empty lot." It' a parking lot dead center of downtown Brandon which is so starved for parking it's preventing growth of businesses there. The owners purchased it and subsequently presented offers to surrounding businesses to use it at arguably ridiculous lease prices, beyond affordability which is why at least one business has relocated and the parking lot still sits vacant.



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
.