Atascadero is joining the long line of people who want money from disgraced developer Kelly Gearhart.
The city of Atascadero is trying to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid fees in an Ohio bankruptcy court. Some of the more than 54 unpaid fees go back to 2004, long before the developer became a pariah in his hometown. The city accuses Gearhart of failing to pay capital facility impact fees, assessment district creation fees, unpaid plan check fees, and tree removal permits.
Gearhart has been reported as owing creditors nearly $65 million. He was once a prominent developer and leading citizen of Atascadero; the chamber of commerce named him and his wife Tamara “Citizens of the Year” in 2006.
Gearhart filed for bankruptcy protection in Ohio in February.
This article appears in Oct 15-22, 2009.