What Is Wrong With Nederland
It seems to us here at the Review that Jefferson County, Texas is without leaders. And we mean leaders. Those that want to do for everyone and not just the few.
Welcome to the Good Old Boy club in Nederland. It is being run headless. And we mean headless as this past week (Monday Night) city council was lying and good old boy friendship jobs.
Our question was WHY?
Why would those elected and unelected shade the rules?
Nederland, for example, is having through the EDC a “training” session for citizens and non-citizens of Southeast Texas. We know, stop laughing. This will be headed by none other than the Queen Bee of Nederland. And never mind the laws regarding the separation of Church and State, but it will be held at 1st Baptist Church in Nederland. No, not at city hall. You know the big new building.
Here is their announcement:
Again, trying to stay relevant. But they cannot as the EDC is nothing but a pass through money grabbing taxing service for the City of Nederland. Thus empowering the DOJx3. Once they get into office, we will dismantle the EDC.
Now we also learn that another questionable guy is running for Mayor of Nederland. And guess what, we did his background and sure enough – there he is, another guy with a criminal past.
Emmett Hollier is running for Mayor, and the Review has learned that he has many problems. What are they?
- Hollier has never owned property in the City of Nederland. He is a renter. A long time ago, a renter – but a renter none the less. Meaning? He has never paid property taxes, which is a huge concern.
- He has a criminal record. And we shall list it:
- March 24, 1995 – Hot checks (settled with repayment plus fines)
- November 6, 1996 – Hot check (again, settled)
- May 11, 1997 – Hot checks again..(settled and fines with judicial warning)
- July 9, 1998 – Hot checks again…(judicial notice, repayment and fines)
- July 10, 1998 – More hot checks and custody notice. Paid restitution, fines, and now fees.
- July 12, 1998 – Financial Mismanagement with Bank. Restitution and fines.
- November 21, 2000 – Hot Checks, arrest warrant. Settled
- November 22, 2000 – Arrest Warrant fees not paid – Hot Checks (2)
- November 23, 2000 – Arrest Warrant fees not paid – Hot Check (1)
- November 25, 2000 – Arrest Warrant Hot Checks (2) – Held By Court – Paid restitution, fees, fine
- November 26, 2000 – Arrest Warrant Hot Checks (1) – Restitution, fees, fines – Probation
- November 13, 2000 – Hot Checks – Probation Violation, Hot Checks, Restitution, Fees, Fines.
You get it right? HUGE financial mismanagement. And he wants to be Mayor? One or two issues and all would be fine – right? Uh no.
Well, remember in Nederland it is all about who you know. Right?
Now you Democrats, here this – he is a Republican. Yes, he is. (Had To Sorry)
There is more which we have not finished looking at, but we will and will let you know. It has to do with a friend who is a peeping tom, got convicted, his attorney, and a judge. We have obtained documents and we are looking at them.
Do you see now why the DOJx3 are running. These guys may be younger but they are ready to make serious changes in Nederland. There is a city manager leaving with a new one on the horizon, and the city manager that is leaving will take over $300,000 and maybe more to the house with him when he goes. Sigh…
Nederland, Texas, has serious problems. And the smell of change is in the air. We will make the call coming up.
A Follow Up – GAP Strategies!
Well, we got a bunch of calls. And (giggle inserted) some from very famous people in Southeast Texas calling us liars. So maybe we messed up was the thought? So we got back on the GAP Strategies pony and went on another ride.
Again, we are DOING THE MEDIA’s JOB. And it is sad. But anyway here we go!
FLASHBACK – The MEDIA reported that a company named GAP Strategies had been contracted for around $150,000 to research and do a program to help pass a HUGE BOND in the City of Beaumont. Here is the story according to the media:
Now you are up to date. And we kind of got a strange feeling as the media tells us all that this company is from Buda, Texas. You know, right where the city manager comes from.
Ugh…right. But we gave it the benefit of the doubt until we were on the phone one afternoon and were messing with the name GAP Strategies, LLC.
So we went looking for their website and got this:
And that got us on the hunt – who are these nice people that just got $150,000 of Beaumont’s tax money. And sure enough, we asked the OAG and the SOS. Who is GAP Strategies? And we got this back:
An inactive company? A company that is not in Buda but in Allen, Texas?
So we did a little more looking around and found this:
And the company had been defunct since 2006. So we got on the old phone and called up to OAG and SOS and sure enough – nobody could find GAP Strategies anywhere in the system. No taxes being paid, no government filing, no federal filing as a Sub c or s, no LLC, and (wait for it) nobody on file. So we reported it and the crap flew out of the city managers office. Then the tips came in. And their website came up (all within about 12 hours). Here is who they say they are:
Well hello GAP! Nice looking people! But you have a shame company as we also found this digging around:
Huh? On Linkedin, no name? Huh? Then this again:
So now they are saying their business name is GAP Strategies (publicly) and sure enough they are in Buda, Texas! Well….we checked again for any or all filings and sure enough we got this:
Their rights to transact business in Texas had ended (due to zero filings or taxes paid since 2006). And adding insult to injury, NONE OF THE PLAYERS HAVE EVER BEEN INVOLVED with a company named GAP Strategies.
Seems to be a big gap huh?
Now these nice people named Gap Strategies have owners that we listed above. They are:
- Jeffery Barton – Buda, Texas
- Kara Buffington – Austin, Texas
- Cynda Barton – Buda, Texas
- Ron Whitehead, Comel County, Texas
So again we got confused – who the hell are these people saying they own a company named GAP Strategies and took over $150,000 of taxpayer dollars when they are at best not allowed to perform business under GAP Strategies. If they are, then this may be big time civil and criminal penalties.
Well, we dug and all of them are involved in these companies:
- Hays County CISD Education Foundation (huh)
- South Texas Press Association (huh)
- Dandy Planning
- Barton Publications
- 1864 Land, LLC
And no, we do not see GAP Strategies ANYWHERE.
What does this mean? Not much other than the City of Beaumont got duped. And just because they say something and they have a website does NOT MEAN THEY CAN OPERATE OR DO BUSINESS IN TEXAS? But they did, they are, and they got $150k of your tax dollars!
Any questions now????? What in the hell is wrong with the city of Beaumont – LESS MIKE GETZ who VOTED AGAINST IT.
Ya, we know, crickets.
Beaumont Background – AJ Turner
And around and around we go, and we stop this week in camp AJ Turner, who is running for an at-large, can you say, boring?
We took a hard look at AJ Sr. And we find – well, not much. We find that he is doing pretty well in his financial background, his homelife, and all seems good, which turns us to his voting. He is a switch hitter.
What do we mean? He is a liberal when it comes to spending your money, just like the $150k spent on someone who does not have a company in another SHUCK AND JIVE gig, this time in Beaumont. You can read about it below.
Wait – NEWSFLASH – Who was the ONLY city council member that voted against hiring the $150,000 non-existent company? Mike Getz?
Moving on.
Now Turner does seem to like the Firemen, but not so much with the police. Why? We don’t know, but it is okay. The Police have about as much political knowledge as a dead nat on a windshield. And that is okay too. Great cops – bad politics.
So AJ gets an “A” on his background. Congrats Mr. Turner. Everyone should have that to be able to have a seat at the table.
Insider Deal? Nooooo!
We get mail all of the time. Now that we are on TRUTH SOCIAL (one of the best moves we have made) our mail is up big time! And get this one…
Mr. Klein, I was wondering if you were looking into the contract the city of beaumont entered into with GAP strategies. $150,000 to “assist” in a bond study. GAP is based in Buda, Tx and I’ve heard rumors the principle officers share a very close connection with Kenneth Williams. Any truth to this? He was the CM there for 13 years
So we dug around a little. And then we dug some more. And guess what? The tipster is on to something.
The set up is the same old thing. The City of Beaumont wants to do a study on whether the citizens would pass a bond. It is an excuse to hire a company and come up with the idea that all would be good if only the government built it, and they will come.
Ya, you get it. How to sell more taxes to the citizens (while they point to $50 million less $4 million in the bank). It is stupid, and a waste of money. So what does the Beaumont City Council do? Well, they vote to spend $150,000 of your hard-earned money to see if everyone wants to spend $275 million and have projects throughout the city. Oh, ya, and build a ditch in downtown.
Now for the question – who is GAP? Well, they are a lobby team based in Buda, Texas. You know, right where the city manager comes from. And do they know him? Hell yes they know him.
So we looked them up on the web to read all about them. We looked Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and again today. Here is the outstanding site we found:
Okay, it happens, right?
So here is the corporate headquarters in Buda, Texas:
Ugh…right? Uh oh….
And then…well here is their leader?
And so we stopped. No, really, this deal smelled so much like Port Arthur’s scams of past, we wanted to get sick. It made us sick. Very sad.
Now, how in the hell, no really how in the hell does the smart employees of Beaumont, Texas, not check this defunct company? Who in the hell is in charge up there? And did they pay whoever whatever?
There is something wrong here. Again, what in the hell is going on? And why did not ANY OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS CATCH THIS? Some dumb ass bad spelling blog catches it? No really? A defunct company in Texas gets $150,000 to see if a bond will pass? Try to convince them that the people.
If the people of Beaumont do not start to throw out some of these people who work for the city (idea time – start with the city manager), then they DESERVE PORT ARTHUR! They deserve the corruption.
And you cops and firemen better wake the hell up.
God help them all. Right?
Nederland Mess Part 4
We had to add to our story below as many in Nederland are hitting the roof after getting online to check our work! We messed up. It is not only VERBO but others. Here are the current postings from around the world:
You just cannot make this up…
Nederland Mess Continues
It continues to be a mess in the wonderful world of Nederland, Texas, where the good old boy system continues to feel pressure. And the pressure is adding up. And not in a good way.
The story is the same old story that goes on in Nederland, Texas. The good old boy has a system. Like the school district (Go Dogs) where teachers humping students, the students get knocked up and everyone says nothing because it comes back to football. Then, it is about grades. Then, it is about building a huge high school on quicksand after being told by six engineering firms not to do it – so they dump a bunch of money into the firm and look, a massive school is built which continues to sink into the ground (3 inches so far).
Another example is when, (since it is spring break now), over $300,000 is stolen from the Heritage Festival in years past, and the executive director says nothing after the board finds out she is scamming the citizens of Nederland. The city refuses to investigate (police) and the board of the festival just lets it go. That board was made up of school district people and city people. Sadly, she now sits up at the lake enjoying the fruits of her labor. Or stealing?
Now, three guys who call themselves the DOJ who have had enough. The current scam, being the Economic Development Commission and giving insiders a great deal on breaking the laws of the city, is the focus of the DOJ.
If you will recall, we broke a couple of stories over the past week. These stories will hit their mark on Monday night at 4:30 at the Nederland City Council meeting.
The first is about the old Mid Jefferson County Hospital. The new owners (not so new) have opened a hotel. Okay, not a hotel, a sleeping spot on VERBO. Okay, well maybe not a sleeping spot but a long term motel. We discovered that not one (and we mean not one penny) dime has been collected by the owners, who tell us it is not their responsibility, to collect the taxes because it is VERBO’s responsibility. So we called VERBO who laughed and said they are just a middle reservation group.
Okay, no taxes collected and everyone points the finger at each other.
They we look at the zoning – uh well? It is not zoned for a hotel or a sleeping spot. And the question again? Who the hell is issuing permits? And they point to a sleep center operating there when the sleep center has been closed for more than a year (like we won’t check?)
So, we call two city council members whom we know and they say “what?” and tell us they have no idea what is going on at Mid Jefferson Hospital.
Then we talk to the owner (a nice man) who calls us, and he said he followed the rules that the city gave him. And we believe him. So we check that out on a PIR552 and sure enough, well we will let you read it:
Okay, so it is only 10 rooms for shift workers at $35 a room run by VERBO or whatever the group is that makes reservations. That is all the business owner wants. Ten rooms at $35 to cover the expense of … well you know.
So then this email pops.
Things that make you go…hmmm. And another email pops:
After we went hmm, we contacted the county. They too had no idea about the rent a room gig, but they tell us that “that is a city responsibility to report a new hotel/motel for our permitting process to collect taxes.” And yes, we asked, and nobody from the City of Nederland called.
Sigh… and then this pops up to the public (nobody sees it)!
So now since we have been asking and other folks have been asking, here is the agenda for this week at 4:30 Monday!
In the middle of ALL OF THIS there is another war brewing with local attorney Jolie Shipley who got challenged by construction near one of her homes. In this regard, she has requested to speak in front of the city council after doing research with Engineering firms that do water displacement. She was told no, and was not put on the agenda. However, she will speak to the council in the three-minute section during the meeting and get out what she can (to deaf ears).
Here is what has Shipley and the DOJ upset. And it is serious.
While she was waiting for confirmation that she was going to be on the agenda this past week, she was told that “the council had met and they were not going to allow her on the agenda.” Shocked, she asked for clarification that the council had met and they had all decided that they would not allow her to speak.
She is an attorney and got it on tape.
Now the city of Nederland is in violation of the Open Meetings Act, and each person caught on audio (city council members and the mayor) is subject to arrest for the violation (s) of the Open Meetings Act. Here is what the state OAG says:
In the criminal context, certain OMA violations can result in misdemeanor charges. These include:
- If an official participates in a closed session knowing there is no agenda of topics or a record taken of the meeting.
- If an individual knowingly and without authority makes public the results of a legally held closed meeting.
Conviction of either offense could result in a fine, time in county jail, or both.
Oh no. Checkmate.
So this should be some fun on Monday! And yes, the OAG is aware of the moves of the city council and we understand that copies of the tapes are in the process of being filed (hello Texas Rangers).
Here is the point. Just do it the right way. Does this company that owns Mid Jeff Hospital have a right to have a hotel if they want? Yes. Just do it right. And the only way to do it right, and no back door deals with corrupt city officials. Thousands of dollars will be owed now to the State and County. And the City of Nederland knows better. Those that own Hotels in the City are highly upset, and the DOJx3 are pissed that the city is being run like this.
As for the groundwater project (s) in place that have affected families in the area? That must be addressed, and to tell a citizen that he/she cannot speak in front of them on an issue of concern is simply out of line. ANY CITIZEN should have the right (s) to present them to their elected official. Telling citizen NO YOU CANNOT SPEAK TO US? Who the hell do any of those elected officials think they are. Ya, it is election time. SUCK IT UP AND FACE YOUR MUSIC.
Lastly, nobody has even started on the EDC and the absolute confusion and corruption that goes on. The funny thing is that the EDC is getting screwed by not collecting any HOT taxes on the Mid Jefferson County Hotel, that is not a hotel. Right? So it could be considered an Apartment Complex? Wait, didn’t the city of Nederland vote to have NO MORE APARTMENT COMPLEXES in the city? We think they did!
There is no way out but the truth now. No more coverups. Enough.
Change is in the air. Didn’t Silvia Root live outside her district and they changed the rules? We think they did.
We are kind of scared if the DOJ gets in, what will they find? It looks like they, no matter what, are not going away.
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