CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL
On Jan. 6, Matt Roessing of The Roessing Firm emailed a letter to House District 149 Representative-Elect Floyd Griffin requesting an investigation into the Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority’s (CSHLRA) proposed sale of the Binion, Walker, Jones, and Green buildings, as well as the Rivers State Prison and Men’s State Prison at Central State Hospital. Roessing also approached the Milledgeville City Council Jan. 14 with the same request.
“I ask you to review the information below and investigate, as you see fit, the CSHLRA’s negotiation and approval of contracts for the Binion Building, Jones Building, Walker Building, Green Building, Men’s State Prison, and Rivers State Prison,” wrote Roessing in his letter. “I raised many of these concerns to new CSHLRA Chair Calvin McMullen on Nov. 21 and urged him and the board to address it immediately. The board failed to do so.”
Roessing alleges that the deals were for “unlisted or very recently listed properties and were negotiated almost exclusively by former Chairman Johnny Grant and real estate agent Patty Burns.” Roessing further states that former CSHLRA Executive Director Mary Demian did not know the details “until contracts were presented in closed session and voted on quickly after, despite the director’s objections.”
Roessing expressed concerns of the authority rushing the sale and selling to an investor named Ken Singh, who allegedly has not presented the needed proposals and plans that the authority requires.
“Ken Singh has presented no proposals or scant proposals for how he intends to use the land and buildings. Nomali, Inc., the entity under which this investor purchased the Binion Building and Men’s Prison, does not appear to be a lawfully formed corporation,” wrote Roessing. “The CSHLRA did not consider job creation, community impact, or financial feasibility, and did not conduct any due diligence prior to approving these sales. I consider this an abuse of power and mismanagement of public property. I believe these sales violate the CSHLRA’s bylaws, its enabling legislation, and the Gratuities Clause of the Georgia Constitution.”
Roessings’ letter contains open record requests broken into exhibits to support concerns of the abuse of social pressure, a violation of CSHLRA’s bylaws and enabling statute, and the vague details and presence of Ken Singh and his company, Nomali, Inc.
“These are my personal thoughts and conclusions as a Milledgeville citizen, a real estate attorney, and a CSH campus investor,” wrote Roessing in the conclusion of his letter. “I present this information for investigation, and I am happy to revise my views if there is contrary evidence.”
Griffin took time to review the letter and on Jan. 17, emailed The Baldwin Bulletin a copy of a letter to Georgia State Inspector General Nigel Lange requesting an official investigation into the allegations of fraud, waste and abuse by the authority.
“The complaint raises similar concerns that I have received from many other members in the community. Concerns and discord continue to grow within the community due to perceived lack of transparency and responsiveness from the authority,” Griffin wrote. “I request that your office investigate the allegations expressed in the complaint and take whatever actions are appropriate to respond.”
Griffin concludes his letters by stating an investigation should calm any “growing concerns” regarding the authority’s actions.
The Baldwin Bulletin
contacted CSHLRA Chair Calvin McMullen Jan. 20 for comment but has yet to receive a response.