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Topic: Flint council, mayor battles and Kate Fields
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

By October 23,2006, the land contract was in default. In a letter to the new Director Amy Hovey:

"Per our conversation, I'm writing to explain why this payment is overdue and why we are asking for an extension. As I explained GECA was hit with a very unexpected lawsuit by the City of Flint. The city sued us for breach of contract for failing to complete a 3-house rehab project-that they themselves told us to suspend and cease action. In order to defend ourselves in court we had to spend every available cent on lawyers and legal fees.

Our agency barely managed to stay open in 2006, but we're slowly recovering and have appealed a crazy verdict which found the city breached the contract, but GECA had to repay the grant funds used at the time they suspended the project..

I'm enclosing the November payment of $150.08 and will work vigorously on getting caught up with the back payments due."
Post Tue Jul 12, 2016 10:07 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

The HUD program under which GECA was to rehab the 3 houses states that acquisition and construction was expected to begin within one year of the grant commencing. This never happened. Two houses on Maryland ,side by side and behind her Delaware property, had been purchased from landlords and were unoccupied. Photos showed the homes vandalized and open. The City building inspectors cited both properties.

GECA had owned the third property and had sold it on a land contract. Conversations with the land contract holder revealed GECA had promised to repurchase the property, but had not done so. GECA was holding the money to repurchase the home in their bank account.

Karen Morris of Flint Department of Economic and Community Services repeatedly warned Kate fields that she had exhausted her administration costs built into the grant and her CHDO fund as well.
Post Tue Jul 12, 2016 10:17 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

All too often new municipal attorneys are learning on the job and do not understand the complexities of HUD grants. When it was realized that the City could lose the lawsuit, reports and HUD rules were given to the attorneys, which altered the outcome.

HUD ruled in Cleveland that a contract could be suspended if the agency receiving the grant owed taxes, and was negligent in complying with HUD rules.

It should be noted that in another thread on GECA, MSHDA restructured the grant GECA used to build two energy efficient homes in the 1700 block of Delaware, on gang turf, so as to prevent HUD findings and give GECA some cash. GECA overspent and misused a Mott Foundation grant.

It was thee two homes that Fields used to justify her application for the Department of Energy grant, that the DOE took back.
Post Tue Jul 12, 2016 10:27 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

On 10/13/06 the Land Bank initiated foreclosure in the amount of $1500.80 and signed by Glenn Johnson.

a second Foreclosure notice was initiated on 7/2/07 in the amount of $2,251.20 plus $112.50 in late fees.

On November 29,2006 GECA enclosed the proof of insurance on the properties.

On July 23, 2007Phil Stair, Transaction Supervisor of the Land Bank, noted the agency was willing to defer the next three months of payments, and push the balance to the end of the contract,
Post Tue Jul 12, 2016 10:45 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

GENESEE COUNTY LAND BANK AUTHORITY, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, April 17,2008

Present: Dan Kildee, Carolyn Sims, Paul Long, Raynetta Speed, and Woodrow Stanley
Absent: Ted Henry, Patricia Lockwood
Staff present: Jeff Burdick, Jon Care. Courtney Knox, Paul McShane, and Phil Stair
III. Public Comment
"Kate Fields, Executive Director of Greater Eastside Community Association, regarding a forfeiture notice regarding the property at 2802 Franklin Ave., asking the Genesee County Land bank Authority to forgive the Land Conract between Genesee County Land Bank Authority and Greater Eastside or to come to an agreement in lieu of cash. Kildee suggests some kind of non-monetary consideration and is open to discussion. Stanley recommends a mutually beneficial result between both parties that does not open a floodgate. Kildee discussed the number of land contracts the Land Bank doe have and would like to maintain the integrity of these contracts and the process. Care would like to follow the recommendations of Stanley, Speed, and Kildee and meet with Kate Fields to discuss an agreement between the two parties and report back to the Board t a following meeting."
Post Tue Jul 12, 2016 11:02 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

In a previous Board meeting on June 19,2007, Kildee had noted to Kate Fields, the forfeiture was not " a situation the board should get involved in and made a motion ro resolve this issue between Amy Hovey and kate Field, Seconded by Carolyn Simms and all in favor.
Post Tue Jul 12, 2016 11:06 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

On September 22,2006, then President of GECA, Joshua Freeman, signed a Notice of Claim of Interest in Real Estate , T20060023361 to Kate Fields, for wages owed in the amount of $12,518.32. This document included all of the properties held by GECA, which were numerous (22) as GECA appeared to be doing their own Land banking.

In another document, Fields was given the agency van and all of the office equipment. She had been cited previously for using the van as her personal vehicle. The agency then had to rent equipment in order to operate.

It was explained to me that GECA had inflated the value of most of their properties in order to make it appear the agency was solvent. I had to agree after I saw the properties on New York, said to be a park. They were ovrgrown and trash filled. The property sloped towards the back of the lots and retained rainwater.


Last edited by untanglingwebs on Tue Jul 12, 2016 11:24 am; edited 1 time in total
Post Tue Jul 12, 2016 11:12 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

On May 19,2009 Kate Fields wrote a proposal for services in exchange for satisfying the land Contract. As GECA was one of three HUD approved Housing Counseling Services in the Flint/Genesee County area, she proposed providing counseling in lieu of the arrearage. The proposal was not accepted.
Post Tue Jul 12, 2016 11:21 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

It should be no surprise that Fields continues to be confrontational and disingenuous in her criticisms of the Weaver Administration. Nancy Jurkiewicz had to come to council on several occasions to dispute claims by Fields ovr HUD programs.
Post Tue Jul 12, 2016 11:28 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS
www.michbar.org/file/opinions/appeals/2007/101107/37338.pdf

STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS ... 2007 v No. 271822 Genesee Circuit Court GREATER EASTSIDE COMMUNITY...


Fields lost in her appeals.
Post Wed Jul 13, 2016 6:55 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Zoominfo Kate Fields
This profile was last updated on 7/25/2012 . .

Is this you? Claim your profile.
Wrong Kate Fields?
Kate Fields

Chief Executive Officer

Greater Eastside Community Association

Greater Eastside Community Association

Background Information
Employment History

Principal

Advanced Solutions Group , LLC

President

GECAS

Executive Director

GREATER EASTSIDE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Web References (30 Total References)

Ananich was a long time member ...

www.flinttalk.com [cached]

Ananich was a long time member of the board of directors for the Greater Eastside Community Association, in which Kate Fields was the Executive Director. Ananich served as the President of the organization until he was elected to the Flint City Council and yet he never disclosed tat relationship per HUD rules and charter requirements.

Under the principles of "due diligence", ...

www.flinttalk.com [cached]

Under the principles of "due diligence", the history of the principal owner, Kate Fields and her past experience as the CEO of Greater Eastside Community Association (GECA) should have been reviewed for at least the past five years. The past due property taxes, property tax foreclosures and lawsuits should have been part of that evaluation.
There should have been an ongoing monitoring to check for signs of financial insolvency of the new company. The Advanced Solutions Group office was the same office that once housed GECA. The office at 2822 N. Franklin was being purchased on a land contract from the land Bank. at least twice the Land Bank prepared to foreclose on the property for non-payment and Fields lobbied the Board of Directors to stay in the building. This year Fourth ward Councilman Josh Freeman, the last President of GECA, deeded the property back to the land Bank. Kate Fields testified her records and remaining office equipment were in storage.
When the City of Flint under Mayor Williamson sued GECA, Freeman and the GECA board allowed Fields to place leins on all GECA properties and signed over the office equipment and Van to her to satisfy her claims of unpaid salary and vacation time. The van was paid for with federal funds.

Flint Talk Forums View topic - How Our City Officials Have Failed the Citizens

www.flinttalk.com [cached]

Under the principles of "due diligence", the history of the principal owner, Kate Fields and her past experience as the CEO of Greater Eastside Community Association (GECA) should have been reviewed for at least the past five years. The past due property taxes, property tax foreclosures and lawsuits should have been part of that evaluation.
There should have been an ongoing monitoring to check for signs of financial insolvency of the new company. The Advanced Solutions Group office was the same office that once housed GECA. The office at 2822 N. Franklin was being purchased on a land contract from the land Bank. at least twice the Land Bank prepared to foreclose on the property for non-payment and Fields lobbied the Board of Directors to stay in the building. This year Fourth ward Councilman Josh Freeman, the last President of GECA, deeded the property back to the land Bank. Kate Fields testified her records and remaining office equipment were in storage.
When the City of Flint under Mayor Williamson sued GECA, Freeman and the GECA board allowed Fields to place leins on all GECA properties and signed over the office equipment and Van to her to satisfy her claims of unpaid salary and vacation time. The van was paid for with federal funds.

Under the principles of "due diligence", ...

www.flinttalk.com [cached]

Under the principles of "due diligence", the history of the principal owner, Kate Fields and her past experience as the CEO of Greater Eastside Community Association (GECA) should have been reviewed for at least the past five years. The past due property taxes, property tax foreclosures and lawsuits should have been part of that evaluation.
There should have been an ongoing monitoring to check for signs of financial insolvency of the new company. The Advanced Solutions Group office was the same office that once housed GECA. The office at 2822 N. Franklin was being purchased on a land contract from the land Bank. at least twice the Land Bank prepared to foreclose on the property for non-payment and Fields lobbied the Board of Directors to stay in the building. This year Fourth ward Councilman Josh Freeman, the last President of GECA, deeded the property back to the land Bank. Kate Fields testified her records and remaining office equipment were in storage.
When the City of Flint under Mayor Williamson sued GECA, Freeman and the GECA board allowed Fields to place leins on all GECA properties and signed over the office equipment and Van to her to satisfy her claims of unpaid salary and vacation time. The van was paid for with federal funds.

Topic: Kate Fields ...

www.flinttalk.com [cached]

Topic: Kate Fields responsible for GECA debt
...
ELGA Credit Union filed a lawsuit a year ago against Kathleen N Fields for a debt incurred by Greater Eastside Community Association.
...
Fields responded that she was an employee and not the resident agent and that the resident agent was the Board President.
...
Fields asserted the debt belonged to the agency and was not a personal loan. The Unlimited guaranty was signed on May 29, 2007 and Fields alleges it was not a guaranty for the October 13, 2006 Promissory Note.
Fields alleges the agency ceased to exist in 2008 and burglaries and arson of the business destroyed the records. She also claimed the 6 year statute of limitations had expired.
Fields denied "unjust enrichment" stating the money went to the agency. However when GECA was sued by the City of Flint, documents produced stated the agency paid Fields for unpaid retirement, vacation and other expenses by giving her all of the office equipment and the agency vehicle as payment. Register of Deeds records demonstrate the agency continued to operate in some capacity and they leased office equipment.
Fields used the same office for her company, Advanced Solutions, that was involved in the Department of Energy Grant investigation. She left Josh Freeman on the hook and he signed the building back to the Land Bank, who held the land contract. Politicians came to her defense twice earlier when the payments were not made on the building and the land bank restructured the loan. After the first loan restructuring then Councilwoman Sims and Councilwoman Poplar badgered City DCED Director Nancy Rich with demands to give GECA and Fields funding.
...
Fields is now on a repayment plan to cover the debt.
Post Wed Jul 13, 2016 7:01 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

How Kate Fields was selected as a councilwoman is worrisome!
Post Fri Sep 09, 2016 9:17 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

The 4th ward race will be worth watching!
Post Sun Jul 02, 2017 1:01 pm 
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