A Conflict of Interest. Steve Bartlett's Link to Stratus and Self Dealing.

On May 12, 2003 I asked the CCHOA for Full disclosure for all three of our board members.

Weeks after my request, I was given this response: ''The Association's current and former directors do not have any legal obligation to make the sweeping individual financial and business disclosures that you demand.''

I've done some research of my own. Here are a few of my recent findings.

Steve Bartlett is a Board member of Circle C and has given leases, deals and spent CCHOA dollars on Circle C communications that are clear conflicts of interest. Many of the following statements are backed up with specific web addresses, so you the reader, can verify yourselves.

Circle C Land Corp is a subsidiary of Stratus. See Page 53 of the 2002 Stratus Annual Report at the following address, it states this fact. (http://www.stratusproperties.com/annual.htm)

Steve Bartlett is financially attached to Circle C Land Corp. In the 2003 Travis County Appraisal web address below, you'll find the following:
Owner's Name and Mailing Address:
CIRCLE C LAND CORP
ATTN STEVEN P BARTLETT
P O BOX 162406 AUSTIN TX
(http://www.traviscad.org/travisdetail.php?theKey=04315702120000)

In the recent Circle C Newsletter, Steve Bartlett and the other Board members ask the following question: Would you like apartments or HEB on track 103 at the North side of Escarpment & Slaughter?

I believe the question itself is wrong. It's a leading question. Why isn't the question: What would the community like to see and use in track 103? Then we can talk with Stratus and see if they would like to work with us (since we will be the customers of whatever is built there).

On February 28th, 2001 the current BOD (Bartlett, Rigsbee & O'Reilly) approved a lease of CCHOA property - 5919 LaCrosse Ave. The 10 year lease from 2001 to the year 2011 was to Phoenix Holdings. The Secretary of State reveals Steve Bartlett as the President of Phoenix Holdings when this lease was signed. The lease included CCHOA providing the double suite office space, paying all taxes and all utilities. Phoenix Holdings (Steve Bartlett's financial interest) would only pay $100.00 a month.

The taxes and utilities alone are much more than the $100.00 a month. Phoenix Holdings collects rent from Susan Hoovers/Denise Nordstroms two companies (Circle C Landscape and Full Circle Management - it's unknown how much Phoenix charges the two companies).

When the residents found out about this transaction in the summer, Bartlett (a Bradley Business partner) immediately changed the president of Phoenix with the Secretary of State, from himself to Brad Buetel (Bradley cousin and business partner). This shell game of different people, different companies has been played on the residents for years.

(continued)

?•?•?•Bartlett's Link to Stratus II

?•?•?•Bartlett's Link to Stratus?•?•?• (part 2)

How can this self dealing be good for the residents of Circle C?

What about all the contracts (Landscape contract, Management contract, Review and Inspection services contracts) that have gone to Susan Hoover (ties to Bradley) without any competitive bidding?

As of October 9th, 2003 the Secretary of State shows Brad Buetel (Bradley cousin and business partner) as being a ''manager'' of Circle C Landscape along with Susan Hoover.

How about all the decisions Bartlett has made ''on our behalf'' that benefit his financial interests?

Why are the BOD fighting the residents and ignoring Circle C committees recommendations? Why don't they want to give up any power and expand the board? Why won't these 3 let the residents represent themselves?

WHAT DO I WANT? What are my intentions? When I see something that's wrong, I try to fix it. That's all I'm trying to do here. I feel my role in this mess is to bring some facts to light. I do not wish nor will I ever be a board member. I only want my neighbors to be in control of our money. I trust all 5,000 of my neighbors (except for Rigsbee, O'Reilly & Hoover). I want no secrets in our HOA.

I want us to govern ourselves.

Your Neighbor,
Sal Costello

You didn't stop Walmart...

You didn't stop Walmart...Stratus did.

And Here's why.

Not many of us wanted the Super WalMart, especially Stratus, who saw the grocery section of Walmart as a major problem when it came to the $tratus plan to build a HEB at Escarpment/Slaughter.

Circle C Resident BELINDA D. WELLS did the ''lions share'' of the ''Stop Walmart'' work when it came to Circle C Residents. BELINDA D. WELLS is also management of Stratus (http://www.stratusproperties.com/management.htm).

The problem I have with HEB moving in is simple. There are already three (3) HEB's within 5 miles. Two of them are only 3 miles away. When the north end of Escarpment from slaughter is built, the 2 HEB's (290 and William Cannon) will be even easier to get to.

And, if HEB is placed there, who will make sure it's done right. Who will represent the residents interest and make sure it's done right? Steve Bartlett is linked to Stratus. Ken Rigsbee is a lobbyist and has been all his life.

In the recent Circle C Newsletter, residents were asked the following question: Would you like apartments or HEB on track 103 at the North side of Escarpment & Slaughter?

I believe the question itself is wrong. It's a leading question. Why isn't the question: What would the community like to see and use in track 103? Then we, the residents, can talk with Stratus and see if they would like to work with us (since we will be the customers of whatever is built there).

2002 Audit?

January 21, 2003 CCHOA board meeting minutes show the following.

1. C. Approved an agreement with Helin and Donovan for Auditing Services for an audit of the 2002 Fiscal Year.
-----------------------
Where is it?