Woolston has been concerned enough about what he learned in a closed session meeting with auditors that he has considered consulting an attorney and may have already done so.
As noted in the June 9 Turner Report, the audit is highly critical of Woolston's involvement in real estate dealings in the area hit by the tornado:
The council members heard the results of the audit during a heated closed session last week. The city will submit responses to the auditors' findings, which will be included in the final report, likely to be revealed during a public session late this month or sometime in July.
The criticism reportedly dealt with some of the same issues addressed by the Loraine Report, which was highly critical of Woolston's efforts to buy property in the tornado-stricken area for Joplin developer Charlie Kuehn, who, in turn worked with former master developer Wallace-Bajjali and sold the property to the Joplin Redevelopment Corporation at a higher price.
Loraine accused the councilman of using insider knowledge and playing on his status as a city councilman and as the tornado mayor in his efforts to convince people to sell their property.
The auditors took the unusual step of issuing subpoenas to some of the CART (Citizens Advisory Recovery Team) members, who brought Wallace-Bajjali to Joplin.
The audit is expected to be released late this month or early in August.
***
People whose understanding of the Joplin situation is limited to what they have read in the Joplin Globe may be caught off guard by revelations concerning Woolston, but not readers of the Turner Report, which has been on top of the Wallace-Bajjali scandal and Woolston's problems. An even deeper understanding of how these events came to pass can be found in Silver Lining in a Funnel Cloud, available at Always Buying Books and Changing Hands Book Shoppe (as of about 2:30 or 3 this afternoon) in Joplin and Pat's Books in Carthage. The book can also be purchased from Amazon in paperback or e-book format at the links below:
6 comments:
I'll donate him a new piece of rope if he will put it to good use. Woolston is a crook and a piece of crap. It's a shame we cannot tar and feather him down at City Hall......
Others beside Woolston should have repercussions - Kuehn, Box, The Joplin Progress Committee, etc
Seems like everyone had their fingers in the tornado pie !!!
This is a shocking development!
Some people keep saying The Turner Report is all in the imagination of Randy Turner and a few people who comment here. Wollston resigning in the face of a audit would tend to make one think there is actually a there here at The Turner Report. At least with respect to this audit.
Too bad Anson won't be blogging about Randy's 'persecution' or whatever of Wollston. Not to mention how Randy pulls the chain of the State Auditor's office and manipulates them.
Maybe Wollston can book a seat on Huff's gravy train and make a few stops with him on the rubber chicken circuit? Can he cry on command?
Curious to see how Globe spins this. Never mind.
Woolsten & Kuhen are both crooks & thought they could get away with all their secrets & under table deals. Prosecute them both to the fullest & then re-coop some of our $$$ back that they pocketed.
I'm amazed it's taken this long to call them out on the carpet. I understand,there is a lot of political red tape to cut through before all of this could come to light. I can't stand a bully! I feel that's exactly what he was when he allegedly made deals for properties. Not only a bully,but he allegedly hit these people at their weakest moments. Some had no insurance or were underinsured. They had lost everything and didn't know what to do! If this is true, I truly hope he is held accountable for his,and the others involved,actions. How could somebody that allegedly did such horrible tactics,sleep at night?
The most important thing Joplin R-8 could teach the students is the meaning of the phrase "conflict of interest" None of the adults in positions of power at the city or county level seem to understand what it means.
I still don't understand why the realtors organization spent money to get this slimeball re-elected; he's the cliche sleazy realtor and makes them all look worse when they support him.
Post a Comment