CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Seldom are conflicts of interest so blatant as was the hiring of IPS Group to head the effort to rewrite the Bryan Comprehensive Plan. IPS Group is a company that makes its living by representing developers, the very people regulated by the comprehensive plan. To make the ensemble complete the city also hired Mitchell and Morgan, engineering firm to local developers.

IPS Group is a company that was born in a conflict of interest. The principles of this group, Jane Kee, Kelly Templin and Natalie Ruiz were fired from the College Station Development Service Department and immediately set about consulting for developer in negotiations with both cities. Why the College Station does not provide a clause that prevents this sort of conflict of interest is a mystery. Our tax dollars should not go to educating and grooming special interest professionals to sit on the other side of the negotiating table from local public interest.

It is disturbing that the city of Bryan was so bold faced in this conflict of interest . It is appalling that there has not been public uproar. One must assume that the people of Bryan do not care about their community. Concern comes only from those who seek to profit from business with the city. This is a recipe for continued sprawl and corruption, as the city spends public money to benefit private developers.