[Greg Starks -- on/not on CFAB again; quit/didn't quit due to total ethical failure of judgment; does/doesn't have financial interest in the next $34 million, right/wrong ? No wonder good reporter Mark didn't know how to label this article -- the conflicts of interest have just started.]
Starks says conflict of interest has passed
By Mark Vierthaler
Dodge City Daily Globe
DodgeCity.com: Dodge Globe: Local News: Stories
"Community Facility Advisory Board chairman Greg Starks resumed his chair Thursday night after a seven-month absence. "
[Gee guess that proves he never was off of the board, otherwise they would have had to take new applications -- probably didn't influence anything either, huh?]
"Starks, who stepped down last August after it was pointed out he had a personal interest in a potential casino developer, said because the decision was now out of the city's hands, the conflict had passed. Starks represented Butler National Inc., the Olathe-based potential developer, in a land acquisition move."
[NOTE: Duh, he was also on the private Boot Hill Gaming Inc. board when throwing out his 10-years of support for the Events Center being downtown -- to move it to being next to -- HIS casino applicant...and buying the land from good old Joe Bud Casino Board Boger. Starks probably gave back the money he earned, right ?]
"...Although the CFAB passed on recommendations for endorsements of the two casino developers that showed interest in Ford County, an issue involving required utility upgrades still remains to be resolved.
The total cost for upgrades has been estimated around $33.4 million. Of that price tag, "Why Not Dodge?" funds are expected by all of the newly-elected commissioners to be used.
"The funds, of which CFAB is the gatekeeper, would have to pass through the board. Starks said Friday he didn't think that setting aside money for infrastructure costs would throw his motives into question again. "
[Wrong, Mr. Starks -- now that real money is being spent you're sure that your ethics are just fine? Didn't get the first round, did you? If the new city commissioners have ethics, you won't be on CFAB. Now, time for you to get off of it again, but this time really OFF of it, not just behind the curtain, as in "don't look at that man behind the curtain, Dorothy" .... I'm putting my money 10-1 that CFAB wants the city to pay for the casino's share of infrastructure -- you owe Butler National that much, don't you?]
"He said it was most likely that by the time CFAB was considering infrastructure costs, the state would have already made its decision on which casino developer is involved."
[Gee, gosh -- "most likely" -- what, are we going to build an Events Center next to a cow pasture or next to a casino? Or does Greg think that maybe he can build a road to no-where and the casino will come ?]