Lest you think the grand proclamations and the multi-million-dollar money grabs for the corpse repository ‘business park’ are a new thing and you are actually BELIEVING them, let me take you back exactly SIX YEARS to the day:
“Economic development officials have said utilities for the business park are essential to make the 165-acre area attractive to companies.” – July 22, 2014
That was when the LEDC and City council (with many of the SAME PEOPLE that hold those positions today) said we needed over ONE MILLION DOLLARS to bring water, sewer and electricity to the ‘business park’.
They got their huge chunk of money and put their pipes and wires into the park – then fed us some more b.s. about how awesome jobs were about to come pouring in! Let’s look at some failed predictions:
“An economic study in 2001, [Neal] Leavell said, concluded a business park was the main item Lampasas needed to attract development.” – Oct 23, 2015
“We look forward to working with you and working to fill this business park with good jobs,” she said [Carol Faulkenberry, Texas Dept Agriculture] – Oct 23, 2015
“Mrs. Monroe noted the Lampasas Economic Development Corp. is working with the business park south of town on U.S. Highway 183, and she said she hopes the site will attract good employers to Lampasas. [Council member TJ Monroe] – April 14, 2015
“Recent land clearing and development of a road at the business park, Mrs. Masonheimer added, have made the site more attractive to prospective businesses and U.S. 183 passersby.” – Oct 23, 2015
“Ms. Toups said she wants to continue to provide infrastructure to develop the business park — which she said Harrison spoke against publicly. Ms. Toups said through the Lampasas Economic Development Corp.’s hard work, “we are on the verge of seeing large corporations come in [to the business park].” – April 21, 2017
The final side-splitter from September 23, 2014:
“Of the LEDC’s loan from First State Bank Central Texas, $1.3 million is for the business park utilities. Another $465,000 is for refinancing of the LEDC’s debt on the business park land. The total $1.77 million loan is for 15 years at a fixed interest rate of 3.35 percent. Along with the infrastructure the LEDC will fund, Lampasas has $200,000 in the city’s upcoming fiscal year budget for electrical extensions to the business park.
“The LEDC’s new debt service payment will be about $150,000 a year, Mrs. Masonheimer said. The economic development corporation projects annual revenue of about $250,000, which will leave approximately $100,000 for operating costs after making loan payments. “
BAHAHAHAHA!!! Annual revenue of about $250,000? Good one. Here we are SIX YEARS LATER and about $350,000.00 in interest payments GONE (money vaporized)….and still no companies generating that $250,000 in revenue. No “high-paying jobs” in the park. There never will be. It is a pipe dream for morons.
Not only were they 100% wrong six years ago, NOW THEY WANT ANOTHER TWO MILLION DOLLARS!! Mandy Walsh and the Lampasas Economic Dunces Club are going to now go begging, hat in hand, to the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. They are taking advantage of (abusing, if you ask me) the new CARES act – which is SUPPOSED to be for Covid-related disasters.
Absolutely disgusting. Nothing but parasites looting other taxpayers in the US to pay for their failed ‘business park’ boondoggle. Every member of the LEDC AND City council AND Mandy Walsh are now officially welfare queens.
