Don Carrington has unearthed more dreck on the $21m. Parton Theater mess. Short story, Rick Watson was double-dealing, working for one of the state’s “economic development” arms while partnering with Randy Parton in trying to fleece Roanoke Rapids. The key instrument was millions in local public debt, never approved by voters, but rubber-stamped by the Down East kleptocracy in Raleigh. The meat of it:
A letter dated April 22, 2005, from LGC Debt Management Director Tim Romocki to Roanoke Rapids City Manger Rick Benton made reference to the company’s business plan. “City and LGC need to receive copies which should include some historical numbers on current and past numbers of Mr. Parton’s Dollywood operations,” he wrote.
Moore’s spokeswoman, Sara Lang, told CJ last week that the LGC never received a copy of Parton’s business plan. Lang did not explain why the LGC approved the project without seeing the plan.
This brings us to our Governor’s Email Commission. Suppose the following email was sent to the LGC in April 2005: “Did you get the copy of the Parton business plan?” Answer: “Yea, thanks.” And delete.
Anything wrong with that? Anyone from the UNC School of Government care to write an obtuse memo defending that practice?
