I wish I had the answer to that question(s).
The latest from the Argus had me thinking;
One of the companies – CLP Investments – sold all of its assets on Nov. 30, 2016, just two days before the Copper Lounge collapsed, killing a Hultgren Construction employee. CLP owned the Copper Lounge, and its members voted to unanimously liquidate the company, according to the affidavit signed by Norm Drake.
So why is this important? I can’t tell you why, but isn’t a bit strange that CLP was sold only a few days before the collapse?
So here are the puzzle pieces that come from that revelation;
Where does the Command Center fit into the picture? They provided temp laborers towards the project. They were also fined by OSHA. How many of those workers were involved with dismantling the load bearing wall?
Where does Lewis and Sanford fit into this picture? Remember Lewis was going to move into this building alone before the collapse, than suddenly after the collapse, Sanford has agreed to put in a clinic. Of course they have more room now due to tearing down Eastwold Smoke Shop.
Why was Eastwold torn down after the collapse? According to the owner of the building, Tim Kant, he felt that part was structurally sound. The city disagreed and sent notice of demolition. Why?
Was Legacy always going to be awarded the Village project from the beginning? Was the RFQ modeled after their plans to begin with? Why?
Does Legacy plan to be investors of the hotel or are they just a middle man that is going to sell the concept to a national hotel chain? Maybe this is the reason the city doesn’t care who the guarantors are?
The mayor has admitted they turned over videos to Federal investigators and other documents BEFORE the initial approval, why not tell councilors before the vote? They are now claiming they knew nothing about the DENR violations of at the city landfill? This is part of the statement from the city;
After they were alerted to the illegal dumping by the DENR, landfill employees identified the area where it was deposited, and the area is being monitored, Best wrote. Hultgren later sent the city a letter indicating that debris containing “asbestos suspect materials” was deposited in the landfill, but that letter didn’t reference DENR’s notice of violation.
So why wouldn’t landfill employees tell management that DENR was digging around? Why wouldn’t DENR tell them they were digging around? Why wouldn’t this go up the chain of command, and if it did, why wasn’t the mayor’s office told? I find it hard to believe the city landfill, it’s employees and site management would keep this to themselves, what would be the purpose unless to cover it up? But why cover it up?
As you can see there is many moving parts with little answers how they fit together.
The complications are suspicious. Everybody has found methods to hand off the blame. This matter may never be resolved. What’s especially troubling is the lack of city inspections and landfill environmental impact. Hultgren and Legacy must be investigated, fined, and sued for compensation before they are selected for city projects. More than likely, Lewis and Sanford have no responsibility. Their interest starts once there is a completed facility, not during demolition and construction.
Whatever happen to the reinventing or rebranding name of “Boomerang,” which for a time this past year appeared to replace ‘Legacy?’
Were they afraid that such a reinventing or rebranding would garner to much attention overtime and/or demonstrate a sense of guilt, and hence it was dropped?
……..It is as if the collapsing of the Copper Lounge is analogous to the time the night watchman found tape on the door at the Watergate, isn’t it?……. Speaking of hotels that is….. 😉
& also is that SD DENR secretary Steve Pirner related to Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum?
I think if someone did some investigating into Les Kinstad at Community Development that might help to answer some questions.
Always follow the money.
MMM – thanks for the reminder, I forgot to mention the previous owner of Legacy who now works for the city.