Posted on 11/20/2009 8:24:53 PM PST by The Magical Mischief Tour
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Were ethical lines crossed when the city purchased the property that will be the future site of the new west police precinct? One concerned citizen thinks so and is taking his complaint to the Tennessee Ethics Commission
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His question about the property comes down to who owned it, a familiar name on the trust with Metro ties, and a price tag he says is way too high. Mike Peden believes something isn't right when it comes to the old Ford dealership on Charlotte Pike. Metro just bought it to become the future site of the new West Police Precinct.
The city purchased the property for $4.2 million, even though the tax appraisal lists it at only $2.9 million. An independent appraiser valued the land at $4 million. “Anyone spending their own money would never have agreed to pay that,” said Peden. “But, you know, if it's taxpayer money, what's another $200,000?"
Peden has filed an ethics violation against the two council members, Ronnie Steine and Buddy Baker, who signed off on the resolution to purchase the property because he believes a fact was left out: While the property is owned by the trust for Bob Frensley, the trustee is Metro police Capt. Mickey Miller, former commander of the West Precinct. Miller, an attorney, could not be reached for comment, but Metro police said Miller never recommended or advocated for the property.
John Lentz, attorney for the Frensley family, said Miller has been overseeing the trust since 1991 and does not stand to make a dime from the sale. “Even if he's not, it still should have been disclosed the Metro Council, before they voted on this, had a right to know and I think the sponsors of the resolution were obligated to tell the Council,” said Peden.
Both council members said they had nothing to do with the selection or price of the property and never knew Miller had any connection to it. The finance department does the picking and said of the two properties up for consideration, the Frensley property was chosen because it costs nearly $2 million less to redevelop than the alternative property.
On Friday, the finance department said Frensley himself was the only person in all the dealings during the acquisition process and that it wasn't until later in the process when the paperwork showed up with the trustee named as Leonard Miller. The department said the people involved in the sale didn't make the connection because they knew Miller as Mickey, not Leonard.
ROFLOL, everyone that believes that stand on their head. LOL
I believe it. Not every political deal is a shady one.
All I know is what I read here. I am way down in Texas.
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