Beverlee Roper voted against Chapel Ridge. Jason Brown, using his power of presiding commissioner, voted twice and voted in favor of Chapel Ridge. (Duane Soper had recused himself because of his involvement with Wells Bank investment in Chapel Ridge. Jason Brown should have recused himself too, but didn't.)
In other words, among the 15 votes on Chapel Ridge so far (6 from first P&Z hearing, 7 from second P&Z hearing, and 2 from this county commissioner hearing), there have been 14 votes against Chapel Ridge, and one person has voted in favor of it and decided it. Doesn't sound very fair, does it?
The whole hearing was a farce. Jason Brown (by his own admission) had secret meeting last week over Chapel Ridge (to make a few minor concessions, for appearance sake). Some contractors were standing in the back of the room in favor of Chapel Ridge, who were probably being paid by the hour by the developer or someone else to stand there. (Obviously they weren't too interested in the meeting. At one point, while the contractors were horsing around, they knocked a picture off the wall.)
Nonetheless, a huge turnout against Chapel Ridge showed up, and we would like to thank everyone for taking time out of their day to show up. The majority of people at the meeting were opposed to Chapel Ridge.
What now? This will probably be challenged in court. This decision has corruption and cronyism written all over it.
Why did Jason Brown turn against his constituents and vote in favor of something so at odds with the surrounding area and so unanimously opposed by people living in this area?
Simple answer: Jason Brown is in the pocket of Platte Valley Bank (financing Chapel Ridge and set to make millions off it) and other developers and real estate interests. (See donations list below.) A letter was sent to Jason Brown on Oct. 2 asking him to recuse himself from voting on Chapel Ridge because of a conflict of interest (i.e. Jason Brown being in the pocket of a handful of people benefiting financially from Chapel Ridge), but apparently Brown had to help his buddies out, even if it costs him politically, as it will. Already a Republicans Against Jason Brown committee is forming for his re-election next year. Brown will probably be challenged both in the Republican primary and the general election, and we won't forget this.
In the meantime, send an email to Beverlee Roper (beverlee.roper@co.platte.mo.us) and thank her for looking out for south Platte County. And maybe send an email to Jason Brown (jbrown@co.platte.mo.us) and thank him for siding with a get-rich-quick Ponzi scheme against the legitimate interests of his voting constituents.
Who Owns Jason Brown?
Jason Brown –
Political Contributions
People who have given money to Jason Brown's campaign -- reported contributions. The following does not include
unreported contributions.
Jason Brown has more donors from development/construction-related industries than from
any other industry.
Jason Brown donations 2010 - 2013, while Presiding
Commissioner.
John Coots / Wells Bank
Kyle Burch (President, Platte Valley Bank)
Craig Hendrick (Senior VP, Platte Valley Bank)
EL Burch (Platte Valley Bank)
Platte Valley Bank (multiple donations from bank itself)
McGinness & Shaw, L.L.C (Robert Shaw - represented
property sellers of Chapel Ridge)
RD Owens Investments, LLC (invested in Chapel Ridge)
White Goss Bowers March Schulte & Weisenfels (law firm: real estate and zoning; Jim Bowers represented Chapel Ridge (and NBH))
RD Owens Investments, LLC (invested in Chapel Ridge)
White Goss Bowers March Schulte & Weisenfels (law firm: real estate and zoning; Jim Bowers represented Chapel Ridge (and NBH))
Homoly & Associates Inc. (home builders / construction)
Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri
Kad Investments (real estate)
Missouri Association of Realtors
Craig Laderoute
(Construction / Development / Real Estate)
Tony Paolillo (Sewer District, construction)
Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City
Gary Martin (real estate)
Rowena Wardrip (landscaping for development)
Wholesale Equity Development Corp (development)
Harding Properties LLC
Joe Kilowatt (electrical - development)
Georganna Geier (VP / Manager, KC, Grandbridge Real Estate
Capital)
Missouri North Area Counci PAC (real estate development)
Craig Porter (construction, Porter Lumber)
William Mann (Mann Development)
Golden Key (development / home building)
Forest Park Development Company LLC (Parkville, development)
Hunt Midwest Real Estate Development
Lexeco-Leavenworth Excavating Equipment (development)
Vance Brothers (Construction)
Michael Royle (legal: real estate)
Michael Short: (investment banking: real estate)
VSM Engineering (development)
DJD Commercial Properties, LLC (real estate)
Sabin Yanez (engineering / development)
Briarcliff Realty LLC (development)
Luke Draily Construction Company
Olsson Associates (engineering / development - Nebraska)
George Butler Associates (Architecture / Engineering /
Development)
Donald Hass (construction, RH Fastener & Supply)
Lutjen (engineering / development)
Transystems Corporation (engineering / development)
Steven Short (DECO Companies, excavation / development)
Ed Alexander (architecture / development)
Broadway 47, LLC (= David J. Christie, real estate)
Christoper Fisher (lawyer: real estate)
James Allen (managing director for Stern Brothers Real
Estate Finance)
Clarkson Contstruction Company
Julian Development Company (development / construction)
West Platte Development, LLC
Chris Watson (National Home Building Corporation)
Park Development, Inc.
River North Development, LLC
Anthony Borchers (developer)
Clarkson Contstruction Company
Castlerock Properties Co., Inc
Douglas Babcock (construction, Fleming-Babcock, Inc.)
Gary Kerns Homebuilders, LLC
Marty Albertson (Platte County Title and Abstract Co.)
Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors
Vinyl Fencing Company, Inc.
Fredrick Pouche (construction, Platte Rental Supply)
Horticultural Impressions (landscaping for development)
Haecker Bobcat (construction)
Susan Phillips (Town and Country Building Services)
Terrence P. Dunn (J.E. Dunn Construction Company)
Universal Development Partners, LLC
Stephen D. Dunn (J.E. Dunn Construction Company)
Development Eleven, Inc.
J.E. Dunn Construction Company
Platte City Acquisition
M. Craig Davis (lawyer: real estate)
White Goss Bowers March Schulte & Weisenfels (law firm:
real estate and zoning)
Other donations received by Brown while in Missouri House of
Representatives:
John Coots (Wells Bank)
Platte Valley Bank (multiple donations)
Jerry Hagg (Platte Valley Bank)
EL Burch (Platte Valley Bank)
Kyle Burch (Platte
Valley Bank)
Kelly Parkhurst
(Platte Valley Bank)
Missouri Architects PAC
Home Building Industry PAC
Christopher Dalton (homebuilder)
David Cox (Century 21, real estate)
JE Dunn Construction Group
Larry Hampton Properties LLC
Michael Drowns (Reece & Nichols)
Homoly Construction, Inc.
Pao's Custom Decks and Construction
Hausman Metal Works and Roofing, Inc.
Joseph Kneib (construction, Herzog)
MO Assessor's Association
Missouri Mortgage Bankers PAC
Platte City Acquisition
Lamb Construction, Inc.
Harding Properties, LLC
Realtors PAC-Missouri
Universal Development Partners, LLC
Builders' Assoc. PAC (BAPAC)
Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors
Randall Moore (Utility Service Company, Inc.)
PAC for Progressive Architecture
Precision Woods, Inc.
Clarkson Construction Co.
Mary Bolling (Mark Bolling Homes)
Andrew Homoly (Homoly Signature Homes)
Jay Jackson Builders, Inc.
Crownridge Homes, Inc.
Debbie Bivens (Bivens Construction Co.)
Rick Bivens (Bivens Construction Co.)
Russ Wolfe (real estate)
North Star Surveying, LLC
Realtors Political Action Committee
Associated Builders & Contractors
William Mann (developer)
Brown Dog Fence and Construction
National Real Estate Company
Double Eagle Builders, LLC
River North Development, LLC
Missouri Land Title PAC
Casa Builders, Inc.
Jones Iron & Metal, Inc.
Marty Albertson (Platte County Title)
Bob-Mark Construction Co.
Coulter Excavating LLC.
Sprint Lumber, Inc.
Castlerock Properties Co.
Quality Painting
Les Wiers Construction
Hampton Plumbing
Rainbow Waterproofing
Perry Lefever (KC Bobcat)
A New Look Roofing
Kevin Green Homes
John Lober, Provence Homes
B&B Cabinets & Construction
Edlin Plumbing
Mark Crain (Crain Properties LLC)
JS Robinson Construction
Missouri Concrete Association, PAC
Builder's Association, PAC
Missouri Forest Products, PAC (lumber)
Belton Associates (development)
Realtors PAC - Missouri
Metal Container Corp.
MO Times Sales Serv. Inc.
Condo Plus
Old Republic Title Co. of KC
Craig Porter (developer)
Porter Development
Home Builders Industry (St. Louis)
Mark Hoffman (home builder)
Harbortown Villas, LLC
Larry Womack (windows)
Tom Johnson (real estate)
Platte Co. Title & Abstract Co.
Champion Homes
Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc.
Majestic Builders
Kerns Homebuilders
Sources:
http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/hlrbillspdf/1464C.01.pdf
Wow… I couldn't make the meeting today because at work…
ReplyDeleteI voted for Brown but never again… where do I sign up to give money to oppose him next year?
This guy is scum
Does anyone know of any good Republican to primary Brown?
ReplyDeleteI'll give $1,000 to this person's campaign.
Beverlee J. Roper as ethical as they come. Character you can count on.
DeleteGood Bye Jason Brown you stepped on the wrong feet this time
ReplyDeleteLook at the list of these area donors to Brown's Campaign that take and make money off our communities everyday ~ Take your business and your money elsewhere!. ~ Don't support his supporters .....He is out of step with the people he is to work for. He owes too many favors and he is paying them back now.
ReplyDeleteDid anyone expect he wouldn't vote for this. Look at the vote to use JE Dunn for the community center expansions when they were no where near the lowest bid.
ReplyDeleteMore info on Jason Brown's corrupt JE Dunn contract:
Deletehttp://www.plattecountylandmark.com/Article11577.htm
Unfortunately, the level of corruption in the Chapel Ridge deal is even worse than in the Dunn contract.
Start recruiting. Jason's term is up next year.
ReplyDeleteScumbag Jason Brown needs to be voted out of office next year.
DeleteSign me up: donations, yard signs, door to door, whatever it takes.
Why it is fair game to call Chapel Ridge a Ponzi scheme:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.strongtowns.org/the-growth-ponzi-scheme/
Time to vote Jason Brown out of office.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting a Republicans Against Jason Brown group if anyone is interested. More info coming….
I'm interested and will be waiting for more info.
DeleteI am also interested and will be waiting for your info. Would also like to keep you informed of my efforts as well.
DeleteI notice that Bowers law firm -- that represented Mertz -- is on the list above. The corruption just keeps getting deeper.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if his name was on here, but couldn't remember his name! Thanks for pointing this out!
DeleteI will add one thing. Donors names that are on his time as Representatives should not be held against them. I for one supported him as did my husband. He has certainly shown his true colors as Commissioner and we MUST find someone to run against him. This is cronyism as bad as any in Washington D.C.
ReplyDeleteI voted for Jason Brown. I encouraged other people to vote for him. And now he's really let us down. Anybody know where he lives? I want to go visit his house and tell him personally how disappointed I am.
ReplyDeleteDon't go to his house. That'll just look bad. If you want to talk to him in person, go to his office at the admin building in platte city (where the hearing was).
DeleteShame on Jason Brown indeed! I imagine that in his oath of office he swore to "respect" and "honor" [or their synonyms]. Way to "respect and honor" our Planning and Zoning Board, our Land Use Plan and our neighbors in unincorporated Platte County. NOT! Shame on you, Jason! Shame on you!
ReplyDeleteI'll give money to anyone Republican or Democrat that runs against Jason Brown. If left in office, his recklessness will end up destroying Platte County.
ReplyDeleteI am oh so glad I do not live in Platte County. Not only would I have to deal with this, but a bunch of meth heads and white trash running rampant like an out of control deer population.
ReplyDeleteYea I'm glad you don't live here either. Your probably a supporter of Jason Brown and Chapel Ridge and the developer. You don't have a big interest in what the residence of the area have to say. We live here and vote here and we love the wildlife, that's why we live here to preserve the area as it should be.
ReplyDeletehttp://new.plattecountycitizen.com/wordpress/?p=5080#comment-589
ReplyDeleteYou know who we have to thank for Commissioner Brown? Mrs. Brown.
ReplyDeleteApparently she did not approve of Representative Jason Brown's girlfriend in Jeff City.