On advice from attorneys, BTC members are no longer answering questions from taxpayers

By John Estridge

Without publicly stating, having a vote or anything of that sort, the Brookville Town Council changed its public comment policy.

On advice of council’s attorney firm for which the taxpayers are paying, Bose McKinney and Evans of Indianapolis, town council members will no longer answer any questions from the public, even when they are submitted to council ahead of time as was the policy prior to this non-announcement.

Brookville resident Derrike Kolb submitted questions involving the proposed Residential Tax Increment Finance District, the purchase of the golf course and the attorneys BTC hired and the taxpayers are paying for.

When Kolb discovered he was not on the Tuesday night, November 23 meeting agenda, he contacted Brookville Clerk-Treasurer Gina Gillman on why Kolb was not on the agenda. Gillman emailed him the answer.

“On the advice of counsel, Board members will not take public comments or questions at this time. I have copied Attorney (Tammy) Davis on this email as well.”

Kolb’s questions BTC members were advised not to answer were:

Who are the attorneys representing from the engagement letter signed at the last special meeting, Town board members or the town?
Where is the golf course going to be represented in the 2022 budgets? Where are losses or gains going and coming from?
When the golf course is no longer a golf course and after the time it has to be held as a green space, what funds are going to be used to pay back the Bond early?
This residential TIF you mentioned in the grant paperwork, when are you thinking the declaration date would be if everything you believe turns out?
In your mind what would the funds captured by the TIF be used for?

BTC President Curtis Ward and BTC Member Chuck Campbell are under investigation by the Indiana State Police for possible Conflict of Interest, felonies, regarding the purchase of the Brook Hill Golf Club. A special prosecutor is part of the situation.