Springdale FOI

In February we see checks for Sunrooms, $500+ for the gas bill, Perry Webb takes in more than $1900 and over $47,000 spent for unknown purposes – just to name a few.

February 2008 Expense Recap

In January Perry writes the “employee relocation” check without a second signature, $343 to his daughter and $1000 in memory of his mother.

January 2008 Expense Recap

Another Mysterious Check With Only One Signature

Springdalefoi — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:59:32 +0000

Angie Cooper Check

On another note, the January 2008 cable bill has tripled. There are two different account numbers noted on the check in addition to Perry Webb’s name in the corner. Hmmm

cable bill 1-14-08

More charitable giving…

Springdalefoi — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:55:11 +0000

We recently reported on the three charitable contributions we were able to locate made by the Chamber of Commerce.

http://foiaspringdale.blogspot.com/2009/12/philanthropic-organization.html

You quickly let us know we left out the local churches so we dug a little deeper and here is what we found.

According to the Chamber of Commerce website, there are 96 churches in the area. Of those 96, they deemed the following four worthy of donations:

First Presbyterian Church – Springdale, AR

Sweet Home Baptist Church – Camden, AR

Friendship Baptist Church – Springdale, AR

First Baptist Church – Springdale, AR

COPIES OF CANCELED Checks

I don’t know what these payments were for and frankly I’m puzzled by what a church in Camden does for economic development in Springdale. BUT before you decide to go and light something on fire in my front yard, this isn’t about the churches. That is a very personal decision each of us makes. I just don’t think the Chamber should decide which churches we make donations to.

Fun Fact: The First Baptist Church of Springdale seems to be the favorite.

1) They received three separate donations, and;

2) They were the only church invited to enjoy the elite skybox for a Naturals baseball game.

http://jonah-m-tebbetts.blogspot.com/2009/11/cowbirds-of-summer.

Giving Back to the Community

Springdalefoi — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:27:48 +0000

We hate to only focus on the negative so today we would like to take a moment to show you some philanthropic giving by the chamber of commerce. This is all we’ve found so far – listed in order of amount donated. If we’ve missed any, please let us know.

Susan G Komen Foundation ……….$200

Komen Foundation

Circle of Life Hospice Memorial for Cora Webb = $1,000

Circle of Life

The William J Clinton Foundation………. $1,680

Clinton Foundation

Project Economy – Academy Goes Elsewhere

Springdalefoi — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:19:43 +0000

It has been reported by television station 40/29 that sporting goods chain ACADEMY SPORTS OUTDOORS will be breaking ground on a new building in Rogers before Christmas this year.

I’m sure the City of Springdale and their Chamber of Commerce / Economic Development Committee were so busy recruiting businesses in Amsterdam they couldn’t lure this one our way.

http://www.4029tv.com/video/21892058/index.html

NEW FOI Springdale BLOG

Springdalefoi — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:50:35 +0000

Go to:

http://foiaspringdale.blogspot.com/

We will be transferring information from this site as well as adding new content.

Springdale Voted Best Place to Raise Kids

Springdalefoi — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:28:33 +0000

Best Place to Raise Kids

A large advertisement (above) the Chamber placed in the Northwest Arkansas Times on Thursday, December 3, 2009 brags about Business Week proclaiming Springdale as one of the best places to raise kids (below).

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/11/1117_best_places_to_raise_kids/5.htm

Unfortunately, the background in the photo they used is of Dickson Street – in Fayetteville. Did the billboards get in the way of using a picture in the actual winning city?

http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasblog /2009/11/springdale_kid_friendly.aspx

http://epaper.wehco.com/Default/Skins/Fayetteville/Client.asp?Enter=true&skin=Fayetteville&Daily=NorthArTimes&AppName=1&GZ=T

http://jonah-m-tebbetts.blogspot.com/2009/11/dubious-distinction.html

Fayettevillage Voice Blogs About Springdale

Springdalefoi — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:50:26 +0000

Lands End Office Supply Store 11-09-09

Anti Macadoodles 6-18-09

Taxpayers Provide Health Ins for Aldermen 6-3-9

Chamber Refuses to Release Study 3-23-09

Ice Storm Debris 2-19-09

Various Meeting Minutes

Springdalefoi — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:06:35 +0000

This does not appear to be a complete set of minutes, however this is all that was provided by the Chamber of Commerce to our FOIA request.

Meeting 11-24-09

October 2009 Board Minutes

Arvest 100,000 transfer

Board of Directors 2nd Qtr 2009

City Council Minutes 04-14-09

Board of Directors 1st Qtr 2009

Board of Directors 2007 Minutes

Board of Directors 2006 Minutes

Board of Directors 4th Qtr 2008

Image Task Force Minutes March – November 2008

Retail Image Task Force Minutes 9-18-08

Infrastructure Task Force Minutes March – September 2008

Government Task Force Minutes March – October 2008

Board of Directors Report 3rd Qtr 2008

RYSE Committee Meeting – Year Unknown

Retail Task Force Minutes 5-01-08

Job Force Growth Minutes May-June-Aug 2008

Springdale Leadership Council Mtg 5-27-08

Education Task Force Minutes April-June-July 2008

April – Loose Page Board Minutes

Retail Task Force Minutes 3-11-08

Board of Directors Minutes Jan 2008

City Council Meeting_2006_08_29 baseball

FOIA Used to Target Volunteers, Webb Says

Springdalefoi — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:53:49 +0000

Coincidentally (or not) the article in the Morning News 11/17/09 http://smn.nwanews.com/ about Springdale’s 2010 budget meeting wherein the Chamber of Commerce agreed to separate at least the city’s $100,000 portion of funds is the ONLY article online that does not open and does not allow public comments – even with paid subscription.

Page Unavailable

Article becomes available – AFTER the vote

http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2009/nov/17/council-ready-budget-vote-2/

Also of interest – the city did not notify citizens or list on their November calendar the meeting held November 16, 2009 to approve the 2010 budget.

City of Springdale November Calendar

Another $100,000 in 2010

Springdalefoi — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:55:02 +0000

$100,000 requested for 2010

see complete 2010 proposed budget here:

http://www.springdalear.gov/docs/budget/2010_Budget.pdf

Chamber Pays Webb’s Family for Landscaping

Springdalefoi — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:00:23 +0000

A compilation prepared by us showing payments made for landscaping or to Perry Webb’s family members, Brandon & Sarah Gordley owners of Showcase Lawns. We were unable to confirm which address was actually being landscaped or why two different companies were being used. The photo shows the size of the Chamber’s lawn.

LINK TO LANDSCAPING COMPILATION

The Board of Directors & Staff

Springdalefoi — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:50:04 +0000

Board of Directors

http://www.springdale.com/the_chamber/staff_and_directors

Chamber Pays Webb’s Trip to Notre Dame – Updated 11-13-09

Springdalefoi — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:36:09 +0000

Chamber pays for Webb’s trip to Notre Dame

Notre Dame – $1025 ticket

and he brags about it on Twitter

http://twitter.com/perrywebb

The Iconoclast – Must Read Jonah Tebbetts Blog Archives About Springdale

Springdalefoi — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:50:21 +0000

The Cowbirds of Summer 11-08-09

The Chicken That Laid the Golden Egg 11-02-09

Chickendale Cowbirds Chowdown 11-01-09

Behind the Cowbird Curtain 10-25-09

Cowbird Cabana Commissioners 09-23-09

Hard Times in the Promised Land 01-23-09

The Soul of Springdale 01-09-09

Down and Out in Springdale 12-17-08

Springdale Smackdown 10-17-08

Springdale Endorsements 10-10-08

Bipolar Disorder of Chickendale Cowbirds 07-23-08

Deadbeat Cowbirds Lose Illegal Exemption 07-08-08

Ray Dotson-Bowling for Bidness 06-30-08

Springdale Cowbirds Shirk Responsibility 06-20-08

The Bloating of that Springdale Bypass 06-08-08

Literati on a Stick 06-02-08

Cowbirds Love Them Some Billboards 05-18-08

Sign City Cowbirds Mull Granting Permission 04-23-08

Springdale Cowbirds Have No Shame 04-20-08

New Candidates on the Local Scene 04-07-08

Liberal Media Are Killing Jobs 02-16-08

How the Cowbirds Get a Free Ride 02-01-08

Perry Webbs Quote of the Day 01-31-08

Springdale Chamber Chokes the Chicken 01-15-08

Hard Times for the Country Club Crowd 01-11-08

Springdale Gawks & Squawks About Budget 11-01-07

Taking the Lap Dog to Obedience School 10-18-07

Springdales Clueless Council 9-19-07

Springdale Budget Woes Made Worse 8-29-07

$12,000 Check for Unknown Purpose

Springdalefoi — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:15:21 +0000

$12000 check

This could be a legitimate expense, but the fact that only one signature is required to write checks of this size and no notation is made as to what it’s for – it’s just bad business practice.

Here’s another one written with only one signature.

$23k to Mt Magazine Lodge & $15k to 9G Enterprises

Springdalefoi — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:25:11 +0000

Mt Magazine & 9G Enterprises

$8,480 – Paid to The Links for RENT

Springdalefoi — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:18:12 +0000

Rent payments to the Links in Springdale from June – November of 2007. Statements are inconsistently coded: nothing, 61400, rent, and professional fees…

Rent Payments to The Links in Springdale

Links Lease Agreement

Links

Office Supplies at BOSE, iTunes, Hickory Creek Marina & Land’s End

Springdalefoi — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:17:11 +0000

In no particular order, here are some pages from American Express statements showing purchases from BOSE, Land’s End, and more.

$3,300.00 spent at Wal-Mart for an unknown reason.

$902.04 coffee pot – Delray Beach, Florida…

NOTE: The handwritten accounting codes and notes on these statements were written by the Chamber, NOT our staff.

Office Supplies from Lands End, BOSE, iTunes, etc.

Board of Directors are PROUD of the Chamber & Anita Davis Responds

Springdalefoi — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:18:24 +0000

Board of Directors say everything is fine

Anita Davis responds to Board

Baseball Suite Catering Expenses

Springdalefoi — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:03:03 +0000

Baseball Suite Catering Costs

April 2008-August 2009 baseball suite schedule

Baseball Suite Costs $175,000 for 5 years

Luxury Suites

Wranglers May Go Elsewhere 9-01-06

Voters Narrowly Approve Stadium Funds 7-17-06

CPA Recommends Changes To Restore Public Confidence

Springdalefoi — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:39:59 +0000

Ervin & Co., CPA – recommendation letter 09-11-09

Monies received were recorded as contractual income, yet were reported and expended as unrestricted funds.

Fiser CPA Says Not Appropriate to Segregate City Funds 4-20-09

Where the Money Goes – TRAVEL & DINING

Springdalefoi — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:11:35 +0000

This document is a quick compilation created by us to give you an overview of how the Springdale Chamber of Commerce spends their travel dollars.

Are any of these legitimate business expenses? Sure. Are any excessive, outrageous abuses of taxpayer money? You decide.

Chamber Travel Compilation

Chamber Dining Compilation – Sorted by Date

We will also continue the task of loading actual bank and credit card statements for each month provided.

Where the Money Goes – DINING

Springdalefoi — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:35:50 +0000

This document is a quick compilation created by us to give you an overview of how the Springdale Chamber of Commerce spends their dining dollars. We will continue the task of loading actual bank and credit card statements by month.

Chamber Dining Compilation

Chamber Dining Compilation Sorted by Restaurant

Chamber Dining Compilation – Sorted by Date

Exotic Destinations

Springdalefoi — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:57:22 +0000

This is an actual copy of sales activity for the Springdale Chamber of Commerce as provided by one local travel agency. This is not a complete list; many were booked through other sources which were not provided although requested.

Around the World Travel Sales Activity

A guide created by us giving you the name and location of airports for trips listed on the travel agency’s report above.

airport codes

The Agreement Proposed by Jaycox

Springdalefoi — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:32:38 +0000

The agreement proposed by Kathy Jaycox to make the Chamber of Commerce accountable for their expenditures.

Agreement Proposed by K Jaycox

Anita Davis Responds to The Board of Directors

Springdalefoi — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:22:50 +0000

Anita Davis responds to Board

Board of Directors say everything is fine