Data Knight 365 missed deadline for closing

A number of people have called, emailed or dropped by to ask about the status of the announced data center for the Floyd County Commerce Park.

My story in today’s Floyd Press updates the situation: Data Knight 365 (DK365) missed the Tuesday deadline for coming up with $100,000 for a down payment for their $900,000 purchase of a 51.5 acres of undeveloped land at the Commerce Park on Christiansburg Pike where the company says it will eventually spend $67 million to build a 120,000 square foot data center.

The company also failed to provide the county with documentation on principals in the company, a letter of credit and a detailed explanation of the role Paul Allen plays in both the current and future operations of the company.

Allen, who was named last month in a loan kiting scheme that resulted in a federal case filed in Tennessee, moved out of one of the two apartments DK365 is renting at the Station on South Locust. In March, the Ohio Secretary of State shut down Allen’s company, B-Telecom. Bill Byler, the Amish businessman who now appears to be the front man on the deal, returned to Floyd this week and tells people "nothing has changed."

Things have changed. The Tuesday deadline for closing was the first milestone DK365 needed to meet in a performance agreement signed last month. Missing the deadline is grounds for canceling the deal if the county chooses to do so.

Economic Development Authority member Mike Maslaney says the "level of skepticism" over the deal has increased and that "questions need to be answered." Maslaney says he and others on the EDA still have hope the deal can be closed.

EDA chairman Jack Russell is occupied with the death of a family member and is not available for comment The EDA meets on September 22 and a decision on the future of the project may be made at that meeting.

Or it may not. Like so much of the hyperbole, mystery and intrigue that surrounds this deal, the questions far outnumber the answers.

(Updated September 23, 2009 to information about why EDA Chairman Jack Russell was unavailable for comment.)

8 Comments

Jeff Blakley on September 3, 2009 at 9:36 pm

I’m gratified to read that Mike Maslaney has said that “there’s reason for skepticism” and that “there are questions that need to be answered.” Indeed. Why has Jack Russell refused to answer questions? Is his salary not paid by the taxpayers of Floyd County? Who is he accountable to? Do any of the other members of the Economic Development Authority (EDA) have anything to say? I realize that the work of the EDA cannot be carried out entirely in the public eye (and none of us have the time or interest to get involved in the details, either), but when a “deal” like this starts to smell, the smart thing for appointed and elected officials alike to do would be to explain themselves and their decision-making processes.

If DataKnight 365 can’t come up with $100,000 by the specified contract date, what makes anyone on the EDA think that they will spend $7 million on site preparation or $67 million on the entire project?

Legitimate businesses do not conduct their affairs in this manner. It’s time to declare this contract null and void and move on. There is no need to invest further energy in a losing proposition. DataKnight 365 thought that people in Floyd County were rubes who could be fleeced. I’m sure they did not take into account the investigative journalism abilities of Doug Thompson. Thank you, Doug, for shining a light on this mess and for keeping the heat turned up.

Circle Thursday, September 24 on your calendars and be prepared to pose some questions to the members of the EDA.

Doug Thompson on September 4, 2009 at 5:52 am

Jeff:

Those who serve on the EDA do so as volunteers, not paid employees of the county. They are appointed by the board of supervisors. Jack Russell does not draw a salary as chairman.

yvonne on September 5, 2009 at 8:34 am

Well is anyone surprised that paul allen did not come up with the money that is the story we all heard in ohio last year I am sure according to paul it has to be someone elses fault mabey he will not be able to use honest peoples money to try and make himself rich. he has lost his home in ohio and has to take his four children away all because he can not work an honest days work thank god for the reporter who keeps checking him out I am sure he will try and use someone elses money he just may not of found them yet, and i am sure you will not see byler anymore because if he can not suppoet the allen’s paul will have no use for him.

Jeff Blakley on September 3, 2009 at 9:36 pm

I’m gratified to read that Mike Maslaney has said that “there’s reason for skepticism” and that “there are questions that need to be answered.” Indeed. Why has Jack Russell refused to answer questions? Is his salary not paid by the taxpayers of Floyd County? Who is he accountable to? Do any of the other members of the Economic Development Authority (EDA) have anything to say? I realize that the work of the EDA cannot be carried out entirely in the public eye (and none of us have the time or interest to get involved in the details, either), but when a “deal” like this starts to smell, the smart thing for appointed and elected officials alike to do would be to explain themselves and their decision-making processes.

If DataKnight 365 can’t come up with $100,000 by the specified contract date, what makes anyone on the EDA think that they will spend $7 million on site preparation or $67 million on the entire project?

Legitimate businesses do not conduct their affairs in this manner. It’s time to declare this contract null and void and move on. There is no need to invest further energy in a losing proposition. DataKnight 365 thought that people in Floyd County were rubes who could be fleeced. I’m sure they did not take into account the investigative journalism abilities of Doug Thompson. Thank you, Doug, for shining a light on this mess and for keeping the heat turned up.

Circle Thursday, September 24 on your calendars and be prepared to pose some questions to the members of the EDA.
Doug Thompson on September 4, 2009 at 5:52 am

Jeff:

Those who serve on the EDA do so as volunteers, not paid employees of the county. They are appointed by the board of supervisors. Jack Russell does not draw a salary as chairman.
yvonne on September 5, 2009 at 8:34 am

Well is anyone surprised that paul allen did not come up with the money that is the story we all heard in ohio last year I am sure according to paul it has to be someone elses fault mabey he will not be able to use honest peoples money to try and make himself rich. he has lost his home in ohio and has to take his four children away all because he can not work an honest days work thank god for the reporter who keeps checking him out I am sure he will try and use someone elses money he just may not of found them yet, and i am sure you will not see byler anymore because if he can not suppoet the allen’s paul will have no use for him.