Meanwhile, up in Roanoke Rapids, the Randy Parton Theater debacle is going ha-ha funny to oh-no funny.
Don Carrington has uncovered a tight little business arrangement which basically had the state of North Carolina paying to recruit a state employee’s own company to manage and operate a taxpayer-built venue. To top it off, the company was paying “consulting fees” to the family members of local elected officials who ostensibly were to provide oversight for the the Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission.
Once again we have some grubby little insiders trying to get rich at taxpayers’ expense. Local officials are clawing to get out from under this disaster, but with a $21 million — empty — theater around their necks, it will not be easy. Speaking of necks, more than a few will be on the chopping block as more details trickle out.
The lesson for the Charlotte area is two-fold: A) The Local Government Commission cannot be relied upon to scope out the bone fides of tax-increment financing schemes. B) Any quasi-governmental entity like a development commission must be watched extremely closely for any signs of insider self-dealing and abuse of the public trust.
Update: Can you Update an Update? Anyway, here is some slimely dealin’ from pols who charged their campaign accounts above-market interest rates on loans they provided from personal funds. Jim Black’s good buddy Richard Morgan pocketed over $100,000 that way.
Update II: Now Dolly has come to the rescue of brother Randy. But Don Carrington reports that Randy Parton has a history of trouble with alcohol — going back to his time at Dollywood.
