If anyone had done any research regarding Mark Branaman, SVP of Vieste, LLC, they would have discovered the absolutely horrific experiences the City of Lawrence has suffered under Branaman's reign as an officer and principal of Lawrence Utilties, LLC, Integrated Resources, LLC, Integrated Data, LLC, Integrated Realty, LLC, and Condgon Engineering - later sold to Vieste, LLC. This web of companies has "operated" the City's water and sewer utilities while lining the pockets of its principals - including Branaman - in excess of $10 million dollars.
This case has been pending since 2004 and has generated a ton of press in Indianapolis, so I'm surprised it was never disclosed to the citizens or Board of Commissioners.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
69 comments:
Well...he could have made a few of our "politically connected" developers and their posse spawn a few dollars...who cares what financial disasters he could have invited into the lives of this County's taxpayers!
This County only exists to insure the profits of our chosen few developer class!
Perhaps they didn't WANT to know.
After all- if they are from Indy and take the locals to a fancy dinner and make promises, somehow they are credible.
Amazing what a little steak and wine can do to our local politicians.
I thought we had some "crack" local attorneys looking out for the "taxpayers'" interests?
It would seem they slipped up, or were maybe looking out for their own interests!
Well, maybe the State Attorney General can sort this out in the future!
"Amazing what a little steak and wine can do to our local politicians."
When historians write about this time in Deaborn County politics, they will refer to these politicians as simply "CHEAP DATES!"
Cheap Dates-
Oh no- I hear it was an expensive steak house...
That way they could believe these gentlemen had the money to pull it off- they appeared to be successful businessmen...
If Mark Branaman ever goes to prison, at least he can frame the "glowing" letter of recommendation he contracted our "Dilbert" Commissioners into giving him, no matter how poor his job performance!!!
Our trio of Commissioner Clowns and their Ring Master Shyster, were working overtime to raise the "Big Top" for the "Three Ding-a-Ling Commissioner Enabled Vieste Circus!"
"Oh no- I hear it was an expensive steak house..."
And, of course, our three sophisticated Commissioners were all bitching about the lack of "Sporks" at this supposive "fancy ass" restaurant!
While their attorney was busy stealing tips from neighboring tables!
I think the person that wrote about the trio of commish's need to rethink and observe. The "two-o" of commishes. Ralph is a light at the end of the meeting. This guy has some sense. The other two, well let's just not go there.
Actually, Ralph was no where near the creation of this mess.
The Trio of which I speak consists of Benning, Fox and Hughes.
No wonder our crooked and/or brain dead politicians so liked Mark Branaman!
He was going to bring Dearborn County into the "BIG TIME" of political corruption!
And apparently, Vieste has a history of campaign donations to uneducated stooges to curry political favors:
http://www2.indystar.com/articles/7/196416-6457-009.html
http://www2.indystar.com/articles/1/196468-6091-092.html
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070818/LOCAL/708180350/1195/LOCAL18
http://www.nuvo.net/archive/2003/10/15/lawrence_election_becomes_a_water_fight.html
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070815/LOCAL1802/708150403&theme=
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070815/LOCAL1802/708150353&theme=
http://indianalawblog.com/archives/2005/11/ind_decisions_m_29.html
http://www.cityoflawrence.org/pdfs/timeline.pdf
Rick Fox and Jeff Hughes, this is what you get when instead of acting like responsible public servants, you act as lemmings, following Ewbank and your other DCEDI masters over each and every dubious cliff!
Fools!
"This case has been pending since 2004 and has generated a ton of press in Indianapolis, so I'm surprised it was never disclosed to the citizens or Board of Commissioners."
Does Messmore do anything for his salary other than grease the skids for theives like Mark Branaman?
Was there not one person at the begining of this deal that had two brain cells in close proximity to each other?
Was this just another rushed deal to make a few of our local "movers and shakers" a buck, damn the taxpayer?
Maybe Mark Branaman can replace Mike Hankins on the DCRSD?
It would seem he would be in familiar company considering the ethics of some on the DCRSD's Board!
They seem to share his vision of public utilties utilized to the line the private pockets of the "politically connected" few!
How clear it is now why our Development bought and paid for local Republican leadership fought so hard to keep Mark Branaman and friends on the County payroll!
Going so far as to support the Democrat that Vieste financially supported in last year's election!
The smell of dead fish would be an improvement relative to the odor that now permeates local politics!
"They seem to share his vision of public utilties utilized to the line the private pockets of the "politically connected" few!"
PRIVATE POCKET ENTERPRISES, A SUBSIDIARY OF EWBANK AND LEHNER SYNDICATES!!!
Vieste was about positive growth...
...of their private financial portfolios...
...using taxpayer dollars!!!!!
This blogsite reported numerous issues with Vieste and Branaman at Council and Commissioner notes in August 2006 (Council budget hearing- the first time Vieste was at a PUBLIC meeting)and especially in Feb, Mar, and Apr of this year.
The sad thing is that these people were behind the scenes with our politicians and administrator nearly a year before that.
The truly sad thing is we have a sizeable group of up and coming cheats, chiselers and con artists in this County who would view Mark Branaman as a role model and exemplar!
I think the truely sad thing is that we are still talking about this group and they are not involved with this County any more.
agree, there is no point, it does nothing to help move forward.
"I think the truely sad thing is that we are still talking about this group and they are not involved with this County any more."
Let us not talk about the incompetence of our past and present Commissioners, Public Officials and County Attorneys!
Let us focus on voting for Fox and Hughes or their Democratic alter egos, in order for we can all be assured of more incompetence in the future!
Incompetence leads to more dollars for those "politically connected" realtor/developers/lawyers who rely on their "slow-learner" stooges to implement their schemes!
agree, there is no point, it does nothing to help move forward.
Remember how we all moved forward when the rank and file voted for Thompson?
Moving forward for you all is moving forward with your plans on taking over this County, by hook or by crook, to hell with everyone else!
Maybe we should start "moving forward" in forcing sewer hookups to subsidize our down on their luck developers? Maybe we could start "moving forward" on preparing a democrat to run in the general if the voters don't follow the orders of republican party officials? Maybe we could move forward on a few more hair-brained plans, that would leave the taxpayer vulnerable for the development of others?
Yeah, lets "move forward!"
"Hughes said that if we would have hired Vieste we would have the infrastructure."
It looks like Hughes is still refusing to move forward!
He wants to revive his past mistakes!
He should have no future in County Government!
Hughes would still like to bring Vieste back. Guess he didn't learn from his mistake.
Or maybe he needs their money to run for re-election.
Fox was out talking to the farmers about selling their land - cheap of course - for the NW Quadrant boondoggle.
We need to remember that next year when he runs to get reelected.
"Hughes said that if we would have hired Vieste we would have the infrastructure."
Infrastructure? What infrastructure? Buying farm land for ten cents on the dollar, then rezoning to fit the needs of developers?
Vieste was all about robbing Peter(the taxpayer/citizen) to pay Paul(development interests)!
Fox, Hughes and Benning were just useful idiots for Vieste!
Fox was out talking to the farmers about selling their land - cheap of course - for the NW Quadrant boondoggle.
Was Fox trying to get these farmers to sell to him?
That my friend is teh million dollar question.....
It would be interesting to get a few afidavits from farmers who may have been approached by Fox. If Fox did not tell them of what he knew about the NW Quad...well...it won't be pretty. Once Ewbank and Lehner are finally gone for good from running our government by legal fiat, a more objective lawyer will get a look at what has been going on in county government.
Also Fehrman and Martini were up there trying to get the farmers to sell. And Fehrman is running for Aurora city Council. What new deals is he trying to set up? And who will he try to fleece next?
Fehrman is an ethical lost cause!
His entire understanding of "public service" is how to get the "public" to "service" his financial interests!
If he had a shred of integrity, he would step down from the DCRSD, considering his many conflicting interests with his proposed subdivisions/development requiring "cheap" sewer alternatives!
"Cheap" meaning forcing "hookups" to ratchet down "HIS" sewering costs!
Accusing Fox of trying to buy cheap land needs to be followed with facts.
Who did he talk to ?
When did it happen?
what was said?
Or are the fact irrelevant when it comes to accusing someone you don't like?
How about one of the farmers or landowners who were approached by Rick Fox about selling their land let us all know just how Fox represented himself, such as a buyer for the County, a third party or for himself.
Also, let these farmers or landowners tell us all how Fox represented is need for the land.
accuse people you all do not like
help your sick ego
Fox is a good citizen
None of this would be in question but for the way DCEDI types and Vieste worked everything so close to their vests, afraid someone else may buy up this "cheap" farmland before the "County Chosen," or before the "OWNERS" of such land were apprised of their land's true worth!
Either way, their plan was to insure the most profit for a select "few" in this County!
accuse people you all do not like
help your sick ego
And when a landowner steps forward, will he be a liar?
When a landowner steps forward, will he (Fox) be a liar?
No. Fox has not been asked or has he said anything about approaching farmers to buy their land. That was an accusation on this blog. It is amazing how quickly an accusation becomes a fact to the hatefilled.
However, if a farmer does not step forward with some kind of proof of wrongdoing, then the accuser is obviously a liar!
"It is amazing how quickly an accusation becomes a fact to the hatefilled."
Those who desire an open an honest County Government are now classified as "hateful" to those whose profits rely on a closed, good ole boy or gal system!
Look how hard these bought and paid for republican politicians fought to remain in control of their fiefdom last election!
They spat in the faces of their “own” primary voters!
The way the republican leadership conducted themselves last election was hate-filled, shameful and reprehensible!
All to please their masters or to guard their petty power base!
If you could read, you would see that I said that the statment maker was hatefull. I said nothing about wanting open and honest government. I am deeply concerned about having open and honest government and that is why I called the accusser on his accusation about Fox.
However, your missive makes it clear just how hate can blind someone so that they can't even read a sentence without twisting it to vent their bitterness. What a sorry way to live! Indeed, you are filled with hate!
Hate-filled?
Please!
All we want is transparency in government!
It would have been nice to know beforehand that our own leadership intended to effectively void our primary votes because we did not vote for the “chosen” stooge!
Hate-filled is too genteel of a word to describe how some in this government are willing to treat the rest of us who do not want to be coerced into subsidizing “politically connected” development interests in this county!
From the very moment of Thompsons primary victory, elements in the republican leadership did their level best to instigate the strife that is now omnipresent in county politics!
You must be a new Buckeye. If you had been here for any time at all, you would know that "strife" has been in county government for many years.
Don't forget about the County Attorney who basically counselled his Republican flock not to vote for the Republican, but vote for the Democrat! He should represent the interests of the County and not just Development Interests! Surely is one objective Attorney in this County willing to work for ALL of us!
"You must be a new Buckeye."
I'm a County lifer!
Maybe I just mistakenly thought there were those in County Government who knew corruption when they saw it...and would act to protect the interests of those of us who pay our taxes!
I'm paying attention now!
I lived in the county since I was ten. What woke me up was all this talk of forcing others onto sewers to support the development plans of a few connected realtors and developers. The dcrsd seems to have no other plan other than forcing the rest of us into great debt for sewers we don't need just for the advantage of a few of its board membership.
Surely is one objective Attorney in this County willing to work for ALL of us!
11:44 AM, October 02, 2007
You've got the money honey, I've got the time.
Maybe I just mistakenly thought there were those in County Government who knew corruption when they saw it...and would act to protect the interests of those of us who pay our taxes!
The good old days are when they just pilfered our tax dollars!
Now they are trying to force us to get loans to support these crooked realtor/developers/politicians!
"They spat in the faces of their “own” primary voters!"
If Morris throws any support behind Fox and Hughes this upcoming election, he will be further showing his contempt for the primary voter!
All this fuss about the
Republican Party not supporting their candidate in the last election, now if the Republican Party does support their own candidate, what some of you said they should have done, then they are wrong.
Talk about a bunch of spoiled mixed up people! It's either their way or you are wrong! The typical hypocrisy we have grown to love about the do-nothing, stop everything crowd!
"The typical hypocrisy we have grown to love about the do-nothing, stop everything crowd!"
Translation:
THE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT STOOGE CANDIDATE, WHETHER HE/SHE/IT BE A REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT OR NATIONAL SOCIALIST!!!\
Bought you by the "DEVELOPMENT AT ANY TAXPAYER COST CROWD!"
"Talk about a bunch of spoiled mixed up people! It's either their way or you are wrong!"
Funny!!!
We supported the REPUBLICAN candidate and the REPUBLICAN leadership supported the DEMOCRAT...
...and they are labeling us "MIXED UP!!!"
Greed and corruption must play hell on the brain cells!!!
"...now if the Republican Party does support their own candidate, what some of you said they should have done, then they are wrong."
Where does one even begin to try to find an intelligent thought in this silly-ass comment?????????
These hacks would be better off just forming the "pro-develop-of- everything" party instead of continually embarrassing themselves with these childish, gymnastic leaps in logic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It appears to be a leap in logic, only if you disagree.
The point is, either you agree with the "do nothings" or you are just plain wrong!
Do nothings?
Either you agree with giving our local realtor/developers free license to do as the please, at the expense of everyone else as they please, or you are a "do nothing" or you are just plain wrong!
Just come out and say it!
If the rank and file Republicans do not vote "YOUR" way in the primary, you are going to shaft them and vote for the Democratic Development stooge!
What Leadership we have in this County!
Money well spent by their Development Masters!
Let's "do something," lets force those who not "politically connected" to subsidize the sewers of those who are "politically connected!"
Further, let us "do something" such as changing the zoning regulations whenever and wherever a realtor/developer gets a "sweet" deal on some farm land!
Why even hold a Republican primary? As it stands today, the Republican Party Leaders will not abide and support the primary voter! Unless, and of course, they vote for the "Chosen" Development Candidate!
You wonder how many fewer votes the "Development" candidate would have received in the primary last election cycle, if the primary voters were apprised before their vote that their leadership would only accept the "Development" candidate as an acceptable choice, and if the primary voter did not vote that way, they would encourage, finance and otherwise support a stooge of their choosing from another party to run in the general, against their primary choice???
"You wonder how many fewer votes the "Development" candidate would have received in the primary last election cycle, if the primary voters were apprised..."
They know this year what the leadership is all about. It will be interesting to watch all the stuttering and lies the leadership will do this year to try to sway these now informed voters.
It appears to be a leap in logic, only if you disagree.
The point is, either you agree with the "do nothings" or you are just plain wrong!
Either you support the rank and file's choice, or you don't!
You cannot have it both ways!
If you want to "lead" the County Republicans, then respect the County Republicans' vote!
If you want to "Boss Hogg" the County Republicans, maybe "YOU" are should not be leading the Republicans!
"then respect the County Republicans' vote!"
They don't respect the republican voter, they just want to herd the republican voter in any direction they are told buy their developer bosses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
The Republican voters are viewed as both cattle and chattel by the leadership of our local County Republican Leadership! With no rights or privileges of their own…regardless if such rights be granted by God or assigned by the State! The local Leadership deems itself to be the final arbiter in and of such matters! And this Leadership only answers to their developer superiors! Who only answer to the currency of their own greed!
The local Leadership deems itself to be the final arbiter in and of such matters!
As Liz puts together yet another flyer of the Development chosen candidates to vote for...Democrats, RINOs and the like!
"Further, let us "do something" such as changing the zoning regulations whenever and wherever a realtor/developer gets a "sweet" deal on some farm land!"
"Sweet" deals, at the taxpayers and landowners' expense, are what these RINOs and Country Club Republicans are all about.
The rest of us only exist as a resourse to be tapped whenever some Development Interests dream of maximizing their profits.
resourse = resource
So what's with the Republicans looking for another candidate in District 1?
Hasn't Hughes done enough for their bottom line?
The Republicans are looking for a Democrat stooge to run in Hughes place after he loses the primary.
The Republican Leadership has done "used" poor ole naive Hughes all up.
Maybe Ewbank can hire on both Fox and Hughes for his file shredding business when he is ousted as county attorney.
All this fuss about the
Republican Party not supporting their candidate in the last election, now if the Republican Party does support their own candidate, what some of you said they should have done, then they are wrong.
No No. Let's see what the republican primary yields and then let's note what the RINO party will do and who they will support.
Will they support a reform winner of the primary or will they conjure up a way of supporting one of their puppets.
Background check is really important in getting the detailed information’s of an individual. It is a reliable record of a person that can be use for legal purposes. There are firms that offer this kind of services.
Post a Comment