By John Estridge
Brookville Town Council President Curtis Ward read four Conflict of Interest statements into record at the last BTC meeting.
He did it without comment and none of the other council members commented.
One of the Conflicts is with the Zimmer Building.
Taxpayers purchased the Zimmer Building for $600,000. Originally, the purchase was to move town hall to that location. However, that changed, and the police station is now going to be placed in the Zimmer Building. Usually, public bids are let for contractors on a public project such as this. But the way BTC members decided to do it, there are no bids.
The first Conflict of Interest statement concerns Ward’s and his brother’s construction company getting the work and getting paid for its work on a building purchased by taxpayers, and taxpayers are financing its renovation. No dollar amount has been stated on what renovations will cost the taxpayers.
Under Description of Contract(s) or Purchase(s), Ward typed:
“GM Development was selected to help purchase, renovate and transfer a municipal police station to the town of Brookville end of 2021. GM Develeopment [sp] is using the Build, Operate Transfer mechanism to complete the project and looked for local contractors to perform various types of work. My brother [w]as selected as a sub contractor [should be one word] and is a co-owner of a joint business venture with me (RBWB LLC). RBWB LLC will also be a subcontractor for the misc construction repairs. Brookville Town Council has no influence or involvement in the subcontractor selection process. Invoices will be submitted on a time and material basis to GM Development. The town of Brookville does not currently own or occupy the structure.”
Under Description of My Financial Interest, Ward typed:
“Approximate dollar value is not reasonably determinable. Invoices will be submitted to GM Development for payment and not to the town of Brookville. GM Development had other contractors back out of the project due to costs and or time constraints prior to starting. To date, no contracts between RBWB LLC and GM Development have been signed and no invoices or payments have been rendered.”
Greg Martz of GM Development LLC was contacted concerning this article. At this time, he has not responded to a request for comment. If he answers questions, his answers will be added to this article.
Another Conflict of Interest Statement concerns the sale of the Brookville Police Station on Main Street.
Ward wrote under the guise of Century 21 (Real Estate).
“I have clients past and present who are interested in purchasing the current police dept on Main Street. I also have a business partner and real estate investment company interested in the real estate.”
Under the Description of My Financial Interest which includes the instruction wording: “(Describe in what manner the public servant or ‘dependent’ expects to derive a profit or financial benefit from, or otherwise has a pecuniary interest in, the above contract(s) or purchase(s); if reasonable determinable, state the approximate dollar value of such profit or benefit.)”
Ward answered “NA.”
The third Conflict of Interest statement concerns the town’s sale of the Old Street Department building. The Street Department is also going to be located at the Zimmer Building.
Curtis is also writing as owner of Century 21.
“Sale of Old Street Dept on Sr 252 (4th St). I have past, current clients who expressed interest and/or a business partner interested in purchasing.”
NA was also used as the answer to Description of My Financial Interest.
The fourth Conflict of Interest statement is regarding the $1 million grant program hosted by Main Street Inc. Ward was one of the instrumental players who worked to get the grant from the state.
Again, Ward is writing as the Century 21 owner.
“I have clients past and present who are eligible for the preserving Main St façade grant.”
And like two of the other three Conflict of Interest statements, Curtis put NA under the Description of My Financial Interest.
Ward was under an Indiana State Police investigation for Conflict of Interest regarding the taxpayers’ purchase of the Pig in a Poke Golf Course for $1 million. Ward purchased property adjacent to the golf course prior to the taxpayers’ purchase.