Stadium talks stall

ST. MARYS - School board members were thrown for a loss at Thursday's special meeting when questions arose about the company that filed a feasibility study about improving or replacing the football stadium.

School board member Bob Valentine moved to halt further stadium discussions and adjourn the meeting after announcing he had discovered that Clover Development Strategies, which compiled the feasibility study, had ceased to exist in Florida in 2014.

School board members voted 4-1 to adjourn the meeting after hearing Valentine's concerns. Board member Brian Little voted against adjourning after he said members were voting on the work she had done for the district. He also said the business licensing was a matter for Florida.

"There is no such business as Clover Development Strategies or Clover Development Strategies Inc., according to the department of state in Florida. That business has been out of business since February 10, 2014," Valentine said.

Clover Development's website lists 2677 S. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton, Fla. as the company's address.

Valentine suggested board members investigate the business' legitimacy before deciding on a football stadium plan.

He believes Clover Apelian was "less than honest" with school officials when she contacted them and worked on the study completed earlier this year.

"We need to draw back, determine whether or not we're dealing with someone who had defrauded us and possibly defrauded the state of Florida by continuing a business that is not registered," Valentine said. "The state of Florida requires that if you're going to use a name other than your own as a sole proprietorship you must register that name as a DDA. That has not been done."

School board members, including Valentine, in December unanimously approved paying Clover Development Strategies $15,000 along with travel and lodging fees.

Valentine said he has contacted several Florida agencies including the attorney general's office. A representative from that office believed the situation was worth investigating to see if the funds could be reclaimed, Valentine said.

"At this point it does not look like it is an active business," school board member Travis Kuenning said.

"This is something that I do not feel that I have enough knowledge," board member Ronda Shelby said. "If there is something that is not legal here, I think that it has to be vetted out."

Superintendent Shawn Brown asked Valentine the reason why he had not raised the concerns in December.

Valentine said he investigated because Brown had not detailed any background check into Apelian's business.

Apelian was a St. Marys graduate, Shelby said.

Apelian previously did work for the former First Presbyterian Church in St. Marys and three church members told him they had not been happy with Apelian's work in 2006 or 2007, Valentine said.