UPDATE: You can hear ALGOP Chairman Bill Armistead discussing this article on the Matt Murphy Show on 100 WAPI this morning by clicking HERE. The portion of the interview discussing the potential new ALGOP HQ begins approximately 9 minutes in.
Multiple ALGOP executive committee members have reached out to Yellowhammer this week expressing concerns over the process the ALGOP has followed in purchasing a new headquarters on Lorna Road in Hoover. ALGOP Chairman Bill Armistead recently proposed the following plan to the ALGOP Steering Committee:
- A group of investors would buy an office building and lease it to ALGOP for a period of 5 years with the monthly payments only being the cost of the interest on the loan.
- When the 5-year period comes to a close, ALGOP would have the OPTION to buy the property or walk away.
Armistead had appointed a committee months ago to look into buying a property but never called a meeting of the committee or included them in the process. This was the first property they had been shown. Still, at first blush, many on the Steering Committee felt this was a good deal. However, more details began to emerge that have left a cloud of uncertainty hanging over this weekend’s ALGOP Executive Committee meeting.
- Armistead sprung a last minute change on some of the Steering Committee members when he informed them that the deal was amended so that the ALGOP would be REQUIRED to buy the property at the end of the 5 year lease period. This was a deal breaker for some on the committee but the deal was hammered through on a conference call with 13 ya votes, 1 nay vote, and 1 abstention. Only after the vote did many members become aware of the changes to the deal.
Additionally,
- The property is purportedly being purchased for well over $100,000 more than its county appraised value (2011 appraisal can be seen below). While these appraisals, which are used to assess property taxes, are usually less than a property’s actual value, this falls well outside of the typical margin.
- ALGOP Chairman Bill Armistead’s nephew is the Party’s real estate agent on the deal. Many on the executive committee were upset that this was not fully disclosed.
- The total sum of the deal is purported to be almost half-a-million dollars which includes a large sum of money for purchases including furniture and a flag pole.
Concerned members of the Executive Committee were quick to say that they felt the purchase of a property was a good idea for the Party but that their qualms were with the process that was followed. Chairman Armistead will likely be sharing these plans with the ALGOP Executive Committee during their meeting Saturday. But he is expected to be presenting it as a done-deal as opposed to opening up the almost half-million-dollar purchase to discussion.
One Executive Committee member summed up their exasperation by saying, “If the Party is going to spend almost $500,000, shouldn’t members of the committee see the contract? Shouldn’t an appraisal be done? Shouldn’t any family members that will be profiting be disclosed? The process has totally broken down and the concept of transparency has been totally abandoned.”
It will be interesting to see how everything plays out. Will the plan change between now and the time when Chairman Armistead presents it Saturday to the Executive Committee? Either way, an eventful weekend awaits the GOP faithful in Montgomery.
Pictures of the potential new ALGOP Headquarters
Location of the potential new ALGOP Headquarters at the corner of Lorna Road and Woodmeadow Drive in Hoover.
Jefferson County tax assessor information for the property (click the picture to enlarge).
The thing with the disclosure to the committee was that not everything was disclosed. Armistead is also not following the bylaws on many things he is doign.
SHOCKING!! While most Americans are concerned about the future of our country Bill Armistead seems to be more concerned with spending our donor dollars on his image and his fancy office. This guy represents what is wrong with the GOP and good ole boy establishment. We work hard and we donate our money to the GOP to help get our country back and what does this incompetent idiot do? He spends our money on a building that is not necessary. I have recently visited the ALGOP office in Homewood and the space is more than adequate. How does he find time to shop for an office while the rest of us are focused on the direction of our country? We are in a war and Armistead has the time to go shopping and he feels that your donations are his to spend as he likes. He represents the thinking in Washington. Spend, Spend, Spend.
I say THIS GUY MUST GO!! Oh, before I forget. Not only is he spending OUR money but he is obviously funneling money to family members as well. KICK HIM OUT!! This is why the young people (and older like me) in America are so disgusted with Republicans.
I was not able to make the meeting due to an illness in the family. It appears that everyting was explained to teh satisfaction of the executive committee that attended? Are we still paying 100,000 more than the appraised value of the building??? And Mr Armistead nephew is still the real estate agent??? Just haven’t heard from any attendees so trying to catch up on exactly where all of this stands. I’m all for ALGOP having an asset with the new building, think it is a great idea for the long term, but hope we are getting our money worth.
Kind man, Cliff
Thanks for allowing disagreements
I was able to listen to parts of this interview last week on Talk Radio. I thought Matt was interviewing a Chicago politician, then as the interview progressed, I realized that this was the Chair of the Alabama GOP. very sad.
Cliff, now that the suppositions of this article have been discredit at the Steering Committee meeting and at the State GOP Committee meeting, I would suggest that you remove this article from your site.
To leave up this article would appear that Yellowhammer simply desires to attack Chairman Armistead.
So, I appeal to you to remove this article. Your website does too much good to lose credibility of the sort
Everything in this article is factually correct. The only difference now is, the Chairman disclosed everything to the steering committee this weekend. Which was the point. As it states in the article, “Concerned members of the Executive Committee were quick to say that they felt the purchase of a property was a good idea for the Party but that their qualms were with the process that was followed.”
I don’t think the Chairman is a bad guy, the process just wasn’t transparent. I stand by everything I write on this site — including this article.
I’m also glad that everything is resolved and the Party has a beautiful new building to move in to.
not sure why you respond to that charlatan. the rest of us know he just totes bill’s water. as for today; bill may have disclosed everything to the steering committee but there are plenty of us out here with unanswered questions. I don’t care that he disclosed his nephew is making money on the deal. doesn’t make it right.
Rev. Killian is a man of God and a great guy. Take your garbage to another site. That might fly on al.com but not here.
Cliff Sims for ALGOP chairman!!
You go, Connie Norris
Mr. Sims, you are a very talented journalist. The vast majority of your pieces are outstanding, but clearly you have a blind spot – or your friends clearly have an agenda when it comes to Chairman Armistead.
With all the spirit of CNN, MSNBC, and other liberal media outlets, I see direct quotes from UNDISCLOSED executive committee members, but beyond the “rumors and rumblings”, I was unable to locate a single clue that Chairman Armistead had been directly contacted for a response. And you had to have known when your comments were posted that the vast majority of us would miss the chairman’s radio interview via your link. It reads not as an effort to dismantle a deal that “concerned members of the Executive Committee…felt…was a good idea for the party,” but yet another “fast and furious” attempt to indict Chairman Armistead. You’re too good for this, Mr. Sims. Please repeat after me, “Fox News, fair and balanced.”
It’s because of his integrity and vast experience within the business and political arena, which began when he was in college, that the ALGOP voting members trusted him with this position. Chairman Armistead has always had an open door policy. He’s a Christian and an astute businessman who has spent his entire adult life fighting the detrimental agendas of the other party. He fiercely loves the GOP, every ALGOP member, and their potential to bring Alabama to a position of prominence in the nation. If you’ll make the effort to meet and get to know him, I’m sure you’ll understand why they chose him for this great task.
By projecting that the Chairman “is expected to be presenting it as a done-deal as opposed to opening up the almost half-million dollar purchase to discussion,” you effectively did a great job of helping your sources pass out stones hours before he sounds the gavel.
In keeping with full disclosure, I am Connie Norris – and I approve of this message.
I may get on here and call this site out, but I feel like I stay grounsed in reality with my shots. To act like this ks character assassination is ridiculous. This is simply reporting the growing tide about a very problematic misstep from the Chairman.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Mrs. Connie
If the building is going to be purchased wouldn’t it be more cost effective to do it now rather than paying 5 years worth of interest and then agreeing to purchase it?
That’s assuming that the 5 years worth of payments won’t be subtracted from the purchase price, but it’s a question that needs an answer.
I’ve heard a few rumors and rumblings (see what I did there?) about Armistead’s job security. How this factors in is going to be very interesting.
I’ll bet any amount of money that Armistead will change his tune by the time the executive committee meeting happens on Saturday. I was dreading the meeting being boring but this at least ensures some intrigue.
Didn’t expect Yellowhammer to be the one to break a GOP story like this. Credit where credit is due. Sims calls em out on both sides of the aisle. Props for the research and presentation. Well done.
There are three sides in Alabama, the Democrats, The Hubbard-Marsh-Riley GOP Triad, and the other Republicans. Armistead is not part of the Triad. Yellowhammer tends to be closer to the Triad. So I’m not shocked. Now if he called out the Triad, I would be impressed.
Fair point. Where do you see Bentley fitting into that? He seems to get favorable coverage here for the most part.
Bentley was initially one of the other Republican’s. The triad doesn’t openly oppose him because he is not seen as a threat to them.
Wowowowowowowowowow. Beautiful building……but wowowowowowow.
The best comment from the Murphy Show this morning was “I wish I was Bill Armistead’s nephew.” The confusing part to me is why was this stuff not disclosed? Like I tell my teenager: things always end up worse when you don’t tell me the truth in the beginning.