Palacios Preservation Association
There was a status conference hearing on the Luther Hotel recently.
Attending were: Judge Polly Spencer, John Griffin, Chris Bell, Ernest Blansfield, Douglas Chavez.
Spencer welcomed everyone.
Chaves opened the proceedings with an announcement from Richard Leshin, the lawyer for Annie Ruth Findley Jones, the Jack Findley estate administrator.
After a long conversation with Ms. Jones, he said that she had submitted her resignation.
Chavez proposed that a dependent administrator should be designated, of the court’s own choosing.
This could include the two candidates who had volunteered or an administrator of the judge’s selection.
Chaves apologized for the tardiness in submitting the attorney fees from Leshin as had been requested previously.
He noted that they had searched for the documents and found the missing file.
To his knowledge all that was requested had been produced.
Griffin also noted that although some documents had been submitted there were still a number of missing documents to be produced that he would continue to request.
Chaves also noted that YAALX is in the process of submitting an offer for the Luther and this will make the purpose of the hearing mute.
Blansfield confirmed that he has the YAALX contract that will be delivered in the next few days.
He also announced that there is a group working to submit a second contract.
Spencer noted that with the resignation of Ms. Jones there was not an administrator to act on this development.
She offered to identify an administrator.
She commented that Ms. Jones has posted a $500,000 bond and perhaps a $250,000 bond could now be procured.
Chaves agreed to whoever the court might select to be the next administrator.
Griffin asked Chaves if he would accept a temporary administrator to move things forward.
He also asked if they would be open to Dee Dee Debter becoming the dependent administrator.
Chaves said he did not want to vote on that right now.
Chaves asked if the judge would appoint the temporary administrator and she agreed to move that forward and approve some funding for administrative costs.
All agreed to this next step.
Blansfield commented that his client, Dee Dee Debter had explained that if she was administrator she would not expect to be paid, she would be happy to help as long as the hotel was preserved.
Blansfield suggested hiring a local electrician to drop an electrical line and purchase fans.
He noted that he sought advice from an architect who explained that this should happen urgently.
He had also explored insurance for the building.
Griffin said that in the walk through earlier in the year it was clear that the hotel needs to be cleaned up.
This task with fall under the role of the temporary administrator.
Spencer thanked all for moving things forward and noted she was glad to hear all the good information.