Triumph Questions

That’s not what I alluded to in my comments.

I was referring to members of the Local Triump Committee that have projects in the submissions and then voted to advance their own project and a project that was advanced that had actually not filed any paperwork for the committee to evaluate. I was told that project was submitted by an Okaloosa County Commissioner.

Why would Walton County advance a project for another County.

Thank you for clarifying. With everything going on with the commissioners, it’s hard to not question everything they say and do.

Thank you for clarifying. With everything going on with the commissioners, it’s hard to not question everything they say and do.

I'd be questioning allot too.

Imma tell you a story.

There was an ex county commissioner from Gulf County who had some shady dealings in regard to BP monies along with his girlfriend at the time (now his wife) who opened up a public relations firm a few weeks after the spill and soon landed more than $14,000 of the tiny county's $236,000 cut of BP cash for a month's work.

Amber Davis, who lived with Gulf County, Fla., Commissioner Bill Williams, incorporated Statecraft LLC less than a month after oil began streaming into the Gulf. Three months later, Statecraft won a month long, $14,468 contract to perform public information and government liaison work for the county of about 15,000 people.

Davis, who has worked in marketing and community relations, said she had planned to form her company before the spill. She also had volunteered for the county's emergency operations center for three months before she was given the contract.

"There is a perception of a conflict of interest in just about anything that anybody does," Davis said. "I guess my statement to that was that I volunteered anywhere from 15 to 18 hours a day for three months and never received a penny."

Williams said he consulted the county attorney and an ethics commission, and neither saw a problem with awarding the contract to Davis.

Link to that story here: www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2011/04/bp_buys_gulf_coast_millions_in.html

Gulf County awarded an identical one-month, $14,468 contract -- this one for monitoring beach pollution -- to Florida Eco Services, a company founded days after the rig explosion by Patrick Farrell, whose wife is on the board of the local Chamber of Commerce.

Then there was that pesky “extortion” investigation by the FDLE, which I have tried to post here in PDF Format but the file is to large. There is a link; http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/02/84/19/03873/12-27-2012.pdf which I hope works.

Then there was his testimony before the House Oversight Government Reform Committee in regard to BP monies that he and his current wife personally benefited from; www.c-span.org/video/?299845-2/gulf-coast-recovery-bp-oil-spill-panel-2

And there was also that pesky Ethics Complaint that was filed against him that he was FOUND GUILTY of as a first time Commissioner in Gulf County (he lost re-election) that he never even bothered to respond to; www.fec.state.fl.us/FECWebFi.nsf/0/37C21D92F7F891B285257B41005EE934/$file/017.pdf

At some point he married his current wife and by their own admission adopted two down syndrome boys from the Ukraine (a very costly endeavor) and bought a 1/2 million dollar, 2 story home in Jan of this year after an accident (in Nov last year) that left his wife in a wheelchair with paraplegia. Seriously? 3 down syndrome children, a mother in a wheelchair and you buy a 1/2 million dollar 2 story home in Defuniak (the Biddle House, google it) and then our Sheriff sponsors a fish fry fundraiser to raise money for a $25k wheelchair? Tickets were being sold from the Courthouse Annex for the fish fry. The Florida Georgia Line band happened to be in the annex for a beach permit, saw the posters and generously donated the wheelchair. In addition the fish fry ran out of fish (at $10.00 per plate) before noon and the fundraiser then became about a $60K handicapped van and the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of medical expenses they had incurred. There was also 2 or 3 different gofund me type accounts which raised money that paid for the $60K handicapped van in addition to the fish fry.

I also learned via a public information request that the taxpayers foot the bill for Mr. Williams penchant for expensive cigars which he used the county credit card to purchase and there was approximately about $1000. dollars worth of other purchases at Wal Mart that included Christmas decorations but when we requested those receipts, was told they may not have been purchases actually made by Bill Williams which begs the question...who else has access to that credit card? The County Administrator did request that the funds for the cigar purchases be repaid and cautioned him not to use the county credit card anymore for personal purchases.

A few days ago I learned that his wife is is now a consultant in the Owls Head project and if things go according to plan she stands to become a very rich woman from Triumph funds. No conflict of interest here folks...nothing to see. It's my understanding that those on the Committee who ranked these projects are fans of the current BCC including C. Jones and Tony Anderson.

I actually had made a comment on the thread about Owls Head wanting money too from Triumph. You know back in the day they were selling it as “new urbanism” throw up a million houses on top of each other because it’s “high elevation” and safe from storms. Now all of the sudden it’s “agragarian” and lets have a farming community and teach kids how to farm and share the community with everyone...peace, love, and cow patties. Owls Head making it to the top of the list is a huge disappointment as well. It’s another developer putting their hands in the money pot. Or in the “agragarian” community the hogs getting fat off the slop.

Things just aren’t adding up with the project selections in my opinion. Who exactly are the people that are appointed to the triumph board?

I actually had made a comment on the thread about Owls Head wanting money too from Triumph. You know back in the day they were selling it as “new urbanism” throw up a million houses on top of each other because it’s “high elevation” and safe from storms. Now all of the sudden it’s “agragarian” and lets have a farming community and teach kids how to farm and share the community with everyone...peace, love, and cow patties. Owls Head making it to the top of the list is a huge disappointment as well. It’s another developer putting their hands in the money pot. Or in the “agragarian” community the hogs getting fat off the slop.

Things just aren’t adding up with the project selections in my opinion. Who exactly are the people that are appointed to the triumph board?

I think Bob Hudson can answer your questions about who the appointments were.

Here is a story done by the Walton Sun on the Owls Head fiasco.
www.waltonsun.com/news/20171027/owls-head-plans-include-farm-education

I'm curious as to why Mrs. Williams is referred to as Amber Davis in the article?? Was the omission of her married name intentional so that people could/would not connect the dots as to who her husband is?

The article says; "The owner/developer of Owl’s Head has a dream"...the reality is, someone has had a dream for that property since I moved here 30 years ago and it has always involved money that could be gotten from County Government for development or infrastructure or other government funded monies. "Something for Nothing"!

@Kaydence I felt the timing of the article was very calculated given the deadline of the triumph filings. Mr. Williams was described by someone as “very crooked, very shady”. And that comes from someone who is a rather large landowner/developer in Walton county. It’s amazing what you overhear at Nick’s!!!!

Also, according to a public records request Bill Williams salary is $74,477.31 (The PIO for Walton County has since said the pubic information that was requested and sent by the County Attorney was not accurate) but it begs some other questions...

(Remember...3 children with down syndrome and ongoing medical expenses, a wife with paraplegia, mounting medical bills, a 1/2 million dollar home purchased this year.)

The article on Owls Head that I posted said Amber Davis had been "consulting with them"...but doesn't mention for how long. I now for a fact its recent because she was hospitalized in Atlanta until May of this year.

How on earth can anyone afford the lifestyle on that salary?

Oh and did I mention that someone was also called and pretty much threatened by Bill Williams?

You don't have to tell me how shady he is, I've done the research.

yesterday at the meeting a resident alluded to commissioners being involved with some of the projects that were submitted. Can anyone elaborate on that? I find it very interesting.

I’m also curious how projects being pre-screened were chosen as top priorities. I noticed one medical clinic “Stone Clinical Laboratories” was chosen as the highest class priority therefore going on to be submitted to the Triumph board. Was any research done on these? A quick google search of “Christopher Ridgeway” leads to lawsuits involving trade secrets, bankruptcy filing, etc. Yet his company is asking for almost 7 million dollars. Maybe his company is legit and he’s worthy of the money, but I’d rather see the money go to local companies and not someone with questionable practices and ethics out of Louisiana get awarded the money.

Just my two cents worth.

www.law360.com/articles/753965/stryker-wins-sanctions-after-ex-employee-hides-evidence

Why the hell does everyone wanting a handout in this county have questionable ethics and sketchy business practices?? Does the County NOT do ANY kind of investigation on people...like a simple background check? Obviously one wasn't done on Bill Williams or the county ignored what they knew and hired him anyway but this Ridgeway guy isn't even from here and wants money?? Geezus!

www.wjhg.com/content/news/Walton-County-approves-TRIUMPH-oil-spill-request-list-455988313.html

Local Committee Members Gus Andrews-District 1 Appointee Juliet Milam-District 2 Appointee Bill Fletcher-District 3 Appointee Bob Brooke-District 4 Appointee Bonnie McQuiston-District 5 Appointee City of Freeport-Mayor Russ Barley City of Defuniak-City Manager Danny Lucas City of Paxton-Mayor Hayward Thomas Sheriff’s Office-Major Joe Preston Walton County School Board-Kim Kirby Northwest Florida State College-Dennis Sherwood

This family would appear to be part of the Walton County Friends and Family Plan. Or part of the "Nonya Plan", (it's fairly new).
Nonya = None of you talk about what you know and you get reward.

Stryker still going after ex-rep, despite bankruptcy


It doesn’t surprise me one bit now that I know who the group is. I think there is only moral and ethical person on the triumph board of the names I recognize (which is all but 2). But they should have pre screened them better.

Something else I found ODD about Bill Williams...

According to his Facebook page he is the owner of Integras Therapy & Wellness out of Panama City. The address for the "business" is 1346 W. 15th Street Panama City Fl.

If you call the number associated with the business you get..."the number you have reached has been disconnected or is no longer in service".

If you google that business and bring up a street view of the address this is what you get....

All of this needs to go on Visioning

Saw something about "cigars".

We're they purchased on county dime?

Saw something about "cigars".

We're they purchased on county dime?

Yes!

As was about $1000.00 worth of Wal-Mart purchases that we requested receipts for (that we never got) that included Christmas ornaments. The County Administrator did request that the funds for the cigar purchases be repaid and cautioned him not to use the county credit card anymore for personal purchases.

OH BIG DEAL, PLEASE DP NOT DO THIS AGAIN!!!!!! HA HA, Did not learn his lesson in one county so comes to Walton and does the same thing. Christmas ornaments, where are these and who did you contact. I will be sure this is brought in the open at the next BCC meeting.

OH BIG DEAL, PLEASE DP NOT DO THIS AGAIN!!!!!! HA HA, Did not learn his lesson in one county so comes to Walton and does the same thing. Christmas ornaments, where are these and who did you contact. I will be sure this is brought in the open at the next BCC meeting.

They are among the packet you received, however the public request for the actual receipts we did not get and were told they may not have been his purchases because he is not the only person with access to that credit card. Say what?? Who the hell else would be using a county credit card assigned to Bill Williams??

Suzanne, I did not make the public records request...it was done by someone else and I got the packet.

The packet was requested months and months ago. The purchases from Wal Mart were in Nov. last year shortly after his wife's accident.

Just glad I never got he and Matt together.

Yes!

As was about $1000.00 worth of Wal-Mart purchases that we requested receipts for (that we never got) that included Christmas ornaments. The County Administrator did request that the funds for the cigar purchases be repaid and cautioned him not to use the county credit card anymore for personal purchases.

So one can spend tax payer $ on personal items, get caught and only get slap on wrist???

Did he get a write up in his HR file?

Sounds a bit like theft. Bet if Blackshear or Hinote did that, they'd be arrested...

Stay tuned the best is yet to come. It will be posted soon.

The image above is the Triumph Committee. Russ Barley was appointed as the Freeport representative to determine what Triumph funds would be used for and to rank the projects accordingly.

So, how it is that Russ Barley was NOT in attendance yet, his ranking sheets are signed by him? I'm told the ranking sheets could not leave the building and that Kasey Cuchens was there for Russ Barley. Kasey Cuchens was NOT appointed to the committee even though she tried to get herself an appointment and that she signed those sheets despite the Freeport Council's appointment of Russ Barley because they did not want Kasey Cuchens.

Cecilia Jones is going to keep pulling crap like this and this County will be lucky to see ANY of the Triumph money!

The State Triumph Committee will ultimately decided what projects will be funded NOT the local committee. The local committee has no power to approve projects or determine funding levels.

Allan Bense is the Chairman of that Committee and the committee includes Don Gaetz.

Cecilia Jones and Larry Jones were appointed to be the County representatives to the Committee. At the last BCC meeting they approved Bill Williams as an alternate in case the others could not attend.

The State Triumph Committee will ultimately decided what projects will be funded NOT the local committee. The local committee has no power to approve projects or determine funding levels.

Allan Bense is the Chairman of that Committee and the committee includes Don Gaetz.

Cecilia Jones and Larry Jones were appointed to be the County representatives to the Committee. At the last BCC meeting they approved Bill Williams as an alternate in case the others could not attend.

Someone signed Russ Barleys name to those rankings. If Bill Williams was the alternate shouldnt it have been his signature on those documents?

Why was Kasey Cuhens even there? She is not on the committee?

Don Gaetz is no idiot no matter what Cecilia thinks. This committee is a joke.

Someone signed Russ Barleys name to those rankings. If Bill Williams was the alternate shouldnt it have been his signature on those documents?

Why was Kasey Cuhens even there? She is not on the committee?

Bill Williams was approved as an alternate County representative to the State Triumph. He is Walton Counties hired coordinator.

Heas no vote but tremendous influence locally. His wife also is a consultant on the Owls Head Project.

Hmmm !