Dodge City News Questions Mark forgot to ask, re $34 million for casino infrastructure

[Mike B.]

Originally Posted by old timer

Not sure how to read some of it, but credit reports show land sales from:

Leon & Dwane Brady, et al. to Western Beverage Inc

Western Beverage Inc to Joseph & Shirley Bogner

Joseph & Shirley Bogner to Butler National Services Corp.

then, oddly, Butler National Service Corp to Butler National Service Corp.

Seems that the location of the Events Center has been decided before the location of the casino... or something like that, huh ? (Send $34 million to casino...) Given that CFAB Chair Starks directly profited from this, come on lawyers ....

OT,

I have been under the impression that the sale of the land mentioned was contingent upon the decision of the Kansas Lottery concerning the winning applicant. If Butler National recieved the OK then we'd be looking out west. (the property you mentioned). If Dodge City gaming got the nod then we'd be looking to the N.E. location. Which ever location gets the casino then the SEC would be it's neighbor. That's been my understanding! Right or Wrong?

Perhaps Butler National is confident and maybe they are willing to bet on the Lottery's decision. Perhaps if the land has already been bought maybe they have knowledge of the decision from inside sources at the Lottery. (who knows)

Now for the real question...How did CFAB Chair, Greg Starks, directly profit from all this?

[old timer]

One way to look at it.

"...Starks represented Butler National Inc., the Olathe-based potential developer, in a land acquisition move...."

DodgeCity.com: Dodge Globe: Local News: Stories

Another.

Why Not Dodge!!: Greg Starks resigns CFAB -- or, not ?

[K C Muffin]

Seems like a lot can be read into this, but it still doesn't strike me as anything wrong or immoral. The Brady's had land. Bogner probably saw the handwriting on the wall and wanted to profit from it. Nothing wrong with that. The Brady's have profited plenty of times, too. All the people in this transaction, Starks included, have all struck me as proficient business people. Nothing wrong with it, I'm a tad jealous - wish I owned that land...

[old timer]

That's the part that made Starks, et al, have to resign from Boot Hill Gaming Inc., after the fact of the direction and profit (without statement of owner of a substantial business interest and profit from his official decision). Normally that gets Mayors, et al, across the country some court time, at least.

I suggest that it was an illegal decision.

That's all. And profitable...gee, if you had known where the casino/events center were going the day before, maybe you could have bought an option...no......

[Made in the USA]

It is my understanding that both parcels of land either have been bought, or are in contract. I assumed that this was a requirement.

[Mike B.]

Originally Posted by old timer

That's the part that made Starks, et al, have to resign from Boot Hill Gaming Inc., after the fact of the direction and profit (without statement of owner of a substantial business interest and profit from his official decision). Normally that gets Mayors, et al, across the country some court time, at least.

I suggest that it was an illegal decision.

That's all. And profitable...gee, if you had known where the casino/events center were going the day before, maybe you could have bought an option...no......

OT,

You still haven't shown us where Greg Starks has directly profitted from all this. Give us the facts, not Globe headlines. Although I do not disagree with you, I think you'd be hard pressed to give clear, without a doubt, evidence of deliberate deciet, cover-up, mismanagement of funds, etc. These guys are way to smart to allow that to happen. They have an agenda and they will go to great lengths to carry it out.

Even if the people of Dodge City and Ford County were to discover some unethical or questionable activities, just remember who has the money, lawyers and Judges.

And don't forget the city and county commissions can instruct thier legal counsel to proceed in any direction the commissions wish, and we the tax- payers foot the bill for any and all work these attorneys do for the commissions.

I'm speaking from experience. If you chose to get involved you'd better have deep, deep pockets. Because just revealing facts is not enough to get people involved in making a difference in Dodge City.

[old timer]

clear, without a doubt, evidence of deliberate deciet, cover-up, mismanagement of funds, etc.

But after he made the CFAB move the events center to the land he was involved in selling. Then he admitted publically that he was on the Boot Hill Gaming Board Inc., then he quit (at least for now) that same board. Then he did (or didn't) resign from CFAB for a while.

Of course it was legal for Bogner to sell his land and be on Boot Hill Gaming Inc. at the same time -- no public job, no public money.

But, as far as deep pockets -- I think some deeper ones, state-level, are watching this situation. Sure, in fact. Nothing like blog and boards to bring up search results -- say, dodge city casino in google or yahoo.

And, goes without saying, that if CFAB trys to dig a hole before the state decided on the location of the casino, those same deep pockets and their lawyers will be smart to come to town. They know that.

Fun all around (except for the tax payers of Dodge City -- that will be hurt over time to support that $30 million events center with the $34 million infrastructure). But you know that...

[old timer]

Conflict of interest law in Kansas does not require that you have made money, by the way. Just the future opportunity to make direct money from official position is enough. Thus, all the city and county elected officials sudden resignations from Boot Hill Gaming Inc. last summer.

PS How is the infrastructure being funded near Wichita for that casino ? Good research project here, folks.

[Mike B.]

Originally Posted by old timer

But after he made the CFAB move the events center to the land he was involved in selling. Then he admitted publically that he was on the Boot Hill Gaming Board Inc., then he quit (at least for now) that same board. Then he did (or didn't) resign from CFAB for a while.

Of course it was legal for Bogner to sell his land and be on Boot Hill Gaming Inc. at the same time -- no public job, no public money.

But, as far as deep pockets -- I think some deeper ones, state-level, are watching this situation. Sure, in fact. Nothing like blog and boards to bring up search results -- say, dodge city casino in google or yahoo.

And, goes without saying, that if CFAB trys to dig a hole before the state decided on the location of the casino, those same deep pockets and their lawyers will be smart to come to town. They know that.

Fun all around (except for the tax payers of Dodge City -- that will be hurt over time to support that $30 million events center with the $34 million infrastructure). But you know that...

OT,

How much tax money should be spent on infrastructure for the casino? Was that even considered by our legislators or when we voted for a casino?

“if a casino is allowed to physically connect to a separate site that previously (or in the future will) benefited from public financing, the casino itself directly benefits,” wrote Golden’s Topeka lawyers Coffman DeFries & Nothern.

“No state or local tax abatement … no revenue bonds, tax increment financing or similar financing shall be used to finance any part of any lottery gaming enterprise.

Will gaming enterprises (casinos) inside the boundaries of public benefit districts be substantially advantaged because they don't bear all the cost of infrastructure improvements, including sewer, electricity, streets, sidewalks and street lighting?

[Mike B.]

Because both casino developers include a city-owned special events center, which was included in the study, Strobel said it would be possible to use some "Why Not Dodge?" sales tax funds to help out.

Illegal to use WND funds?

“No state or local tax abatement … no revenue bonds, tax increment financing or similar financing shall be used to finance any part of any lottery gaming enterprise.