The first item that appeared before this new P&Z Board (Paxman and Spinelli were absent) was Project No. 09-01400001, a two part request for a special land use to allow a private school that is going to have 60 students maximum located at 230 S. Dixie Highway. This is a school whose tuition will be paid by the parents of the children who attend as well as State of Florida vouchers.
The owner and his two sons already appeared before the CRA last week and the CRA had concerns of using that location. Little did anyone know then that the Cornerstone Church of God and Christian Academy, that just signed a ten year lease, have several civil actions pending:
1. Used the First Baptist Church's name and credit in Lantana where it was renting several rooms, to purchase a Xerox copier. Left owing $8,000 in rent plus utilities. Charged with fraud and embezzlement.
2. A case involving Emily Allen who was a victim of the Cornerstone Church and is owed $20,000 in unpaid rent.
3. The Cornerstone Church left owing A.G. Holley and the Department of Health $25,000 in rent and unpaid legal fees.
When talking to the owner of the property, reportedly from Miami, I asked them if they had any concerns about the tenants paying the rent. They said "Yes we know the background here and if they stop, we will call the Sheriff and get them evicted." One owner also said, "Well, you know, it has the word 'God' in it," and she threw up her hands to the heavens, insinuating that if it had to do with God then it couldn't be all that bad.
My problem with it is the character of those running this "school," not a fine example for children and not the type of characters we want to attract to our city.
The P&Z was told by its attorney last night that it could not make a judgment based on pending legal cases involving criminal activity of the tenants, only on the land use. This will now come before the City Commission for final approval. The Licensing Board needs to do a thorough criminal and credit check on these people and protect Lake Worth residents from anyone opening businesses who have had shady dealings.
Another government scam. Great.
ReplyDeleteNo Chair or Vice chair there. Those guys usually move that meeting. I hope they come back and work with the new Board. I bet Phil could have figured out a way to turn these people down.
ReplyDeleteMy children attended Corner Stone when it was a real School (re @ the corner of Hypo & Congress). W.P.B./County required the old owner to put in a turn lane, @ the church , they didn't and incurred huge fines/worked out a deal w/county.So, they sold the school to these people. My children attended their first year open (new owners @ the church on Lantana Rd) I watched the new owners fire all the teacher w/ degrees/replace with no degree teachers. Also, they did not have specialized teachers come in for my son who Is a Mc Kay student (ESE)He is now behind because this school. They do not follow state Regs. for all the different types of scholarships they receive on behalf of students etc... They are awful.. I've never seen such a large group of pissed off teachers/parents during & at the end of the school year. I pulled my kids out. Ck their standings w/ the state. Maybe u can get their lic. pulled.
ReplyDeleteThis is quite an eye opener. Awful what's going on here.
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