And who is this Shelby Land Partners??? you ask. Well, don’t say that I told you, but state records show the Shelby Land Partners, LLC “principals” and information are as follows:
Shelby Land Partners, LLC is a North Carolina Limited-Liability Company filed on October 16, 2014 . The company’s filing status is listed as Current-Active and its File Number is 1407126.
The Registered Agent on file for this company is Cassarino, Ben J., Jr and is located at 217 E Tremont Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203-5021. The company’s principal address is 217 E Tremont Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203-5021 and its mailing address is 217 E Tremont Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203-5021.
The company has 5 principals on record.
1. Cherokee Auto Auctions, Inc (Charlie Carrigan) from Kings Mountain NC,
2. Cibix Management from Charlotte NC,
3. Edwin C Holbrook from Shelby NC,
4. Merlin Holdings, LLC from Charlotte NC, and
5. Richard H Berkowitz from Shelby NC.
More info from State Records:
Company Name: SHELBY LAND PARTNERS, LLC
File Number: 1407126
Filing State: North Carolina (NC)
Filing Status: Current-Active
Filing Date: October 16, 2014
Company Age: 3 Years, 11 Months
Registered Agent:
Cassarino, Ben J., Jr
217 E Tremont Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28203-5021
Principal Address:
217 E Tremont Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28203-5021
Mailing Address:
217 E Tremont Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28203-5021
And More:
Actually, we are just getting started with the financial shenanigans Commissioner Eddie Holbrook has gotten Cleveland County involved with. Bad shenanigans with maybe bad connections and for very bad reasons.
If you are brave enough to “google” Cibix Management you will find out that Cibix has a connection with Catellus Group. And everybody has the same address: 217 Tremont Avenue in Charlotte.
Then “google” Merlin Holdings. You will soon see that Merlin Holdings is a registered corporation in Nevada. Yes, I said Nevada. Where Las Vegas and Reno, the gambling capitals of the USA are located. Also where lots of organized crime is located too.
On top of that you will see the Registering Agent for Merlin Holdings is Capitol Corporate Services, Inc. And, if you remember, the loan funding for the new North Shelby School Project as well as $$$Millions of “stuff” for the Clearwater Paper expansion included putting up the new North Shelby School, James Love Elementary School as well as the new Health Department building for collateral. The commissioners headed by Eddie Holbrook did not sell government backed bonds as are usually the case, but instead made a pawnshop (or loanshark) type loan with the repayment squarely on the backs of taxpayers. And with a lending institution with a name clearly similar, maybe a subsidiary of Capitol Corporate Services, with possible ties to Nevada gambling industry money. As I recall from the June budget for 2018-2019, the County would receive around $200,000 in investment income (they refused to say where the money is invested) and will pay out around $10 million in debt service. They also did not say where these debts are located, who we owe and how much each. Doesn’t that tell you something is screwy with Cleveland County finances??? under the so-called leadership of Edwin C. Holbrook.
And, then you have to remember that the Commissioners have all supported the proposed gambling casino near Kings Mountain fronted by the Catawba Indians that has been pending for so long. The casino that’s supposed to bring 4,000 jobs, low paying jobs like cleaning up and making beds at the casino hotel, carrying out the garbage and such or maybe doing the same at Eddie Holbrooks new motel too. You can bet 90% of any jobs coming on account of the KM Casino will come from out of Cleveland County and out of state. A look at any map will prove that point. Say, Ask Eddie Holbrook how many construction jobs at his new motel were filled with Cleveland County residents and by Cleveland County businesses. How many minority workers and minority owned businesses too. My guess the answer to that question is ZERO, ZERO. Better yet, Ask Eddie or his Uncle Toms about that.
And, then there is Eddie Holbrook’s involvement with the Economic Development Partnership that Cleveland County taxpayers are throwing $5 million at in the 2018-2019 budget. Who runs that so called partnership, etc.?? YOU go ask Eddie Holbrook that question. I have already gone to the Chamber and the County and asked those very same questions. I asked for an organizational chart like every group should have. Who is at the top? Who is accountable? Who much does anybody associated with this taxpayer funded “partnership” make? All sorts of simple and reasonable questions anybody would ask after going to the EDP website and finding only two women, Kristin Reese and Beth Norman listed. Whatever happened to David Deer? Where is Eddie Holbrook or any others involved in the partnership on the organizational chart and what do they do? And, especially, where does these 5 million tax dollars go? AND, where does any other so called “Partner” put up any cash of their own and what do they do? The answers I received can be printed on the head of a pin with room to spare. Nothing! No answers to any questions. The CIA and the FBI can’t keep secrets any better than this Economic Development Partnership crowd, apparently headed up by Eddie Holbrook. The Great Poobaa, The Big Cheese or just the Grand Dragon. One name fits all for “Massa Eddie” Holbrook.