Mr. Chris Karch

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  www.gotowncrier.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=73&twin - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/25/2008    Last Visited: 5/17/2008  

  Christopher Karch, The Acreage
  
  Editor's note: Mr. Karch is a former member of the Indian Trail Improvement District Board of Supervisors.

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  www.palmswestpress.com/news03.htm - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 9/5/2003    Last Visited: 1/31/2009  

  But ITID President Chris Karch, who has publicly feuded on the issue with Masilotti and Royal Palm Beach officials, opposed the resolution.
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  "I'm not going to support SR 7 dumping into this community ever, in any way shape or form," Karch said, calling for the resolution to address Persimmon, Coconut and other roads.
  
  "How many letters have we written to the commissioner that he has not answered?" he said, referring to squabbles over the ownership and plans to expand Community Park and other issues.
  
  Karch suggested the ITID wait one month until the County Commission considered a environmentalist-proposed ordinance that would place a conservation easement on any sensitive land purchased for preservation. The ordinance would prohibit development of land such as Pond Cypress.
  
  If the commission approved of the ordinance on Sept. 29, Karch said, a resolution opposing the use of 110th Avenue would be moot because the county would no longer have a path for the reliever. He said commissioners might try to gut the ordinance to allow some uses on sensitive land, including roads.
  
  "This multiplicity (of resolutions) will confuse" residents and other governmental entities, he said.
  
  Karch said he and ITID engineers are preparing a public unveiling of their Grassy Waters Parkway plan, which would include a straight-north route from Okeechobee to Northlake boulevards.
  
  He said meetings to preview the plan - and to seek state and federal funding - will soon be scheduled with legislators. ITID engineers are finalizing plans for the road.
  
  "Within 45 days we should have a completed report," Karch said. After that, he proposed, a summit with other local governments and community leaders to promote the only route that would not adversely affect homeowners.
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  "I haven't heard that," countered Karch, who met with Aaronberg separately on the same day.
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  District attorney Charles Schoech forced a decision on the issue - which involved a supporter of board President Chris Karch - public.
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  The Griffins have been vilified enough, Karch said.
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  "I firmly believe that Mr. Karch abused his position and waived these expenses for Mr. Griffin as a friend and someone who supported Mr. Karch during his (fall 2002) campaign," wrote Damone in her complaint to the Commission on Ethics.
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  "I firmly believe that Mr. Karch abused his position and waived these expenses for Mr. Griffin as a friend and someone who supported Mr. Karch during his (fall 2002) campaign," wrote Damone in her complaint to the Commission on Ethics.
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  Karch was the only incumbent against The Acreage's incorporation and the only incumbent re-elected.
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  Karch, who was called to testify in the Griffin trial, said he was "embarrassed" to have been involved.
  
  He said former district administrator John Bonde and Doug MacGibbon, trial attorney on behalf of the ITID "misrepresented the truth" in the case.
  
  The board "didn't have any knowledge that this (case) was going forward," Karch said.
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  The decision - proposed by board President Chris Karch - came after the meeting's agenda had been completed, during supervisors' comments.
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  Karch said he had hoped the search for a permanent administrator would cost the district $10,000 or less. However, he said, professional search firms would have charged more than that fee. The Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District's administrator search included a dinner for job hopefuls, which alone cost more than $10,000, Karch said.
  
  While Karch was investigating the search process, he said, Oppel was consistently contacting him to express interest in the job.
  
  Karch said Oppel's "tenacity" in lobbying him for the position was effective. He said Oppel's experience as a chief operating officer (and later, chief of facilities management) with the school district, director of the Port of Palm Beach, coordinator of a $50 million capital improvements program and interlocal agreements made him the prime candidate to run the day-to-day operations of the ITID.
  
  "It's a difficult thing," said Karch, who later privately apologized to Schenck for the "surprise."
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  "It's something we struggled with, but it's something we need to move this district forward," Karch said.
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  President Chris Karch and Supervisors Penny Riccio and Myra Orlando individually instructed Schoech to offer her the job last month.
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  Board President Chris Karch presented Quickel with resolution of "appreciation for her dedicated service to the district" during the meeting.

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  www.gotowncrier.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=82&twin - [Cached Version]
  Last Visited: 5/17/2008  

  My colleagues here at 60 Minutes received an e-mail earlier this month from Christopher Karch, who identified himself as former president of the governing body of the Indian Trail Improvement District in The Acreage.He alleged several examples of shenanigans going on in the community.He also sent the e-mail to Florida Gov.
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  Mr. Karch was displeased with a few issues in the community, and he apparently assumes that residents, who booted him out of his elective ITID office 18 months ago after leading The Acreage perilously to the edge of the bankruptcy cliff, still believes what he has to say.And, he apparently believes our national TV audience ratings would receive a huge boost if we air his Acreage grievances.
  
  He explained that "we" (he didn't identify "we") are opposed to the Callery-Judge Grove bill (in the Florida Legislature) that would allow the citrus grove to develop its property at the same density as neighboring communities, including The Acreage."This has been a subject of numerous public hearings held within our community whereby over 300 people attended," Mr. Karch wrote.
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  However, there was a public meeting hosted by Mr. Karch as president of ITID and two other former board members at a local school.Several residents who were at that meeting acknowledged that far fewer than 300 residents showed up and the sentiment count was taken late, after nearly everyone had already left.
  
  "We are all aware of the manipulative methods imposed on the legislature and crafty language that is so apparent in the bills set forth by this developer and their attorneys," Mr. Karch implored."With respect to all of those 50,000 residents [who live in The Acreage], do not pass this bill."
  
  Manipulative?Crafty?Those words made us wonder whether Mr. Karch was speaking for those 50,000 residents.We sent our researchers to check the results of the 2006 primary election and found that Mr. Karch garnered only 575 votes.That amounts to only one percent of the 50,000 residents he claims he is representing.
  
  In any event, the Callery-Judge agricultural enclave bill died on May 2, perhaps even as Mr. Karch was writing his e-mail.
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  Another complaint Mr. Karch made was more confusing.He said "we" (our investigators still haven't figured out who "we" are) opposed an ITID bill in the legislature pertaining to boundary changes to the special district.He said the boundary changes near 112th Street and the Bayhill Estates subdivision were sought by landowners who contributed heavily to the campaigns of four of the five current ITID supervisors.
  
  Once again, we sent our researchers out and they couldn't find any campaign contributions to the ITID supervisor candidates during the 2006 election linked to those property owners.Mr. Karch further claimed that one of the property owners seeking to be included inside ITID boundaries hired a former ITID administrator, now an elected official outside the district, as an unregistered lobbyist to help push the bill through the legislature.Our investigative team learned that the bill, required by the legislature under the rules establishing the improvement district, was in response to a request by vacant landowners to be included in ITID because it covered drainage that their previous special district did not provide.It also turns out that Mr. Karch might have erroneously assumed that the property owner who he says hired someone to help him was included in the bill.We could not determine that he was included, but apparently he was not.
  
  Mr. Karch also called for an investigation into a water-utility issue that we determined he actually created himself.We at 60 Minutes are assuming that we're now investigating the investigator.He said that residents are "waging a legal battle against ITID for stripping them of their referendum rights," related to the district sale to Palm Beach County of utility assets.A house bill that also failed on May 2, possibly at the time that Mr. Karch was typing up his e-mail, has to do with special district referendums that ITID addressed on behalf of residents in its contract with Palm Beach County.
  
  We also learned that the legal battle with Palm Beach County began, at Mr. Karch's behest, when ITID hired an Atlanta lawyer to sue Palm Beach County over water rights in The Acreage.The result was nil.Mr. Karch's previous board spent some $2 million in legal fees and $1 million in engineering fees.The current board received about $8 million for simply dropping the lawsuit that Mr. Karch's board had already lost in court several times on various issues.
  
  Finally, Mr. Karch made an excellent point.He said the "people of Palm Beach County have been subjected to unscrupulous activity by elected officials resulting in federal convictions and indictments, and the investigations continue."
  
  To wit: we would ask Mr. Karch when he is going to repay the district for the $6,607.29 he allegedly owes the residents for unpaid health insurance policy premiums.

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  www.gotowncrier.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=73&twin - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 3/7/2008    Last Visited: 5/17/2008  

  Christopher Karch, The Acreage
  
  Editor's Note: Mr. Karch is a former ITID supervisor who spearheaded the previous board's plan to operate a water utility.

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  www.gotowncrier.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=73&twin - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/18/2008    Last Visited: 5/17/2008  

  In his letter to the editor last week, it would appear that Mr. [Chris] Karch showed his complete lack of moral character and common decency by insinuating that my relationship with Indian Trail Improvement District Supervisor Michelle Damone was something more than professional.
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  This is also the last time that I will offer an answer to Mr. Karch.His attempt to foster an atmosphere of disgraceful gossip is a personal, scandalous and desperate attack on both mine and the Damone families.This type of gossip doesn't bother me, but it can be hurtful to my spouse and children.First of all, it is completely untrue.Secondly, perhaps Mr. Karch lacks the life experience necessary to understand that good interpersonal relationships are not "counterproductive to elective service," but then, they also say, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks."
  
  My parents taught me a long time ago to reflect in the mirror before you start criticizing the actions of others.I've looked in the mirror, but if Mr. Karch won't look, I'll look for him.
  
  Perhaps Mr. Karch's letter should have been titled "Hypocrisy on the Previous ITID Board."After all, isn't it hypocrisy when Chris Karch speaks of a $66 million value for a water system, but he knowingly doesn't explain that the system valuation assumed that every ITID resident would have had to be hooked up in order for the system to be worth that much money.I will never support forced hookup or forced assessment on ITID residents for something they don't want.Isn't it hypocrisy to talk about all this lost potential ITID revenue from water, when in fact, this revenue is nothing more than a new way to collect profits from our citizens by calling it a water bill instead of a tax?One reason I supported the [county] water agreement was because citizens must vote for water to ever come to the residents, and if it gets approved, the agreement guarantees the cheapest available rates.After all, fiscal responsibility means that I need to protect the taxpayers' wallets and make sure that their tax dollars receive "the most bang for the buck."
  
  Wasn't it also hypocrisy when Chris Karch voted to have CH2M Hill do a water study and then his own firm was a subcontractor and collected all the samples for the study?Did further hypocrisy occur when an experienced water engineer (Chris Karch) supported a taxpayer expenditure of $2 million for a seven-mile pipeline with no fire hydrants, no tees at roads, no way to maintain the proper chlorine residuals, and above all, no customers to pay for it?
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  Based on these issues alone, wouldn't it be hypocrisy to describe Chris Karch as having been a "public servant"?
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  Although former Indian Trail supervisor Chris Karch continues to distort the facts and consistently manipulates language, I tend to ignore his letters to the editor risking public perception but trusting that all Acreage residents are intelligent enough to read between the lines and remember the apparent lack of moral character Mr. Karch displayed under his most recent leadership.
  
  However, this time Mr. Karch went too far.Although I am an elected official, I do not have to accept personal attacks that directly affect my family.Mr. Karch alluded in his own written words, "you are both detrimental to our well being, and your personal relationship is disgusting and counterproductive to elective services" speaking to both ITID President Mike Erickson and myself, insinuating to the public a relationship more than a professional relationship.
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  Mr. Karch's apparent reckless disregard for others caused harm to my husband, our children and the Erickson family.Allow me to make something perfectly clear, Mr. Karch: our families are not elected officials and are off limits to any personal attacks or any other shenanigans that you invent.
  
  To the public: I am proud of my service to this community, just as I am of all of the other members of the ITID board.We may have differences of opinions in decision making, but we never attack one another personally.Rather, we debate and discuss the issues professionally and often form a consensus after a thorough discussion.Some of us have known each other for years, while some of us have created new relationships while serving on this board.We always treat each other with respect both "on and off the field."Apparently, that is something Mr. Karch could never comprehend or understand.

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  www.gotowncrier.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=73&twin - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 4/11/2008    Last Visited: 5/17/2008  

  Chris Karch
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  Editor's Note: Mr. Karch is a former member of the ITID Board of Supervisors.While on the board, he supported ITID's creation of a water utility.

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  Acreage may build roadblock for Scripps - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 6/29/2005    Last Visited: 6/29/2005  

  "If you guys wanted a gated community, or a way to make it semi-private, you could eventually go to the board with that," Indian Trail board member Christopher Karch said at a crowded public input meeting Monday night.

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  Acreage official denies trying to 'stiff' district - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 11/4/2006    Last Visited: 11/4/2006  

  District records show that Christopher Karch failed to pay five months' worth of health insurance premiums and a year's worth of dental premiums.He was delinquent paying another $4,500 in premiums early this year.
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  Karch blames the ever-changing district staff for his missing monthly payments.During the past few years, a series of managers has worked for the district, hindering record-keeping and general operations.The district handles roads, parks and drainage for The Acreage.
  
  'The district has not been very prudent in invoicing me,' Karch said.
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  District Manager Jeff Clemens said staff sent Karch monthly bills.
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  But when Karch still hadn't coughed up the cash for five months through October, Clemens handed him a bill at a meeting and sent a duplicate bill about a week later via FedEx to ensure delivery.
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  Karch said there is one reason his billing mishap came to light: board member Michelle Damone wants to make him look bad.
  
  Damone and Karch don't get along, often arguing and questioning each other's integrity.
  
  'I don't appreciate her spending all her time trying to impugn the reputation of a righteous person,' said Karch, who was on the board for 12 years until he lost a reelection bid in September.
  
  Damone said an anonymous phone call prompted her to take a look at the issue.When she researched it, she didn't like what she saw.
  
  'He's going to come up with a thousand reasons why he hasn't paid it,' Damone said. 'This is a pattern.Why should the taxpayers of Indian Trail pay for his family to have health insurance?'
  
  Karch ran into a similar payment problem in the past year.District records show Karch was remiss in paying for medical premiums from October 2005 through March.He finally paid a lump sum of $4,529 on March 20.
  
  Again, Karch said, he was behind because the district didn't bill him on time.
  
  'I've paid them whenever I've been noticed,' Karch said. 'I have never stiffed the district.'
  
  Karch said he will pay his recently accumulated health insurance premiums of $3,775 but not the $884 for dental because the insurance company assigned his coverage incorrectly.
  
  Damone said she suspected Karch was trying to swindle the system when her research revealed a mileage reimbursement he filed in September totaling $3,528 - about what he owed in health insurance premiums.
  
  His reimbursement write-up - the only expense Karch ever filed during his tenure - listed a year's worth of district-related monthly driving in 12 lump sums totaling 9,797 miles.
  
  Clemens said he can't reimburse Karch without origins and destinations for individual trips, as required by state statute.
  
  Karch said his format is fine, similar to how other board members have submitted mileage in the past.
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  Karch remains adamant about being reimbursed without revising his expense report.

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  Acreage official riles opponents as she roils issues - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/12/2004    Last Visited: 7/12/2004  

  "Serving on the board with Penny Riccio," said Indian Trial board member Christopher Karch, "is like being pecked to death by a duck."
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  "She's changed her mind on everything. . . . We're constantly in political turmoil because of Penny," Karch said.

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  Acreage official to keep pressure on despite critics - [Cached Version]
  Published on: 7/12/2004    Last Visited: 7/13/2004  

  "Serving on the board with Penny Riccio," said Indian Trial board member Christopher Karch, "is like being pecked to death by a duck."Riccio's response: "That person who is doing that (pecking) action to you is getting their point across."
  
  Staff members at Indian Trail once kept a yearlong log of allegedly abusive behavior by Riccio and fellow board members complain that she is embarrassing and combative.
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  "She's changed her mind on everything.... We're constantly in political turmoil because of Penny," Karch said.
  
  The record shows Karch is partially right.Riccio ran for election opposing incorporation, but now favors it.She says she supports a different State Road 7 extension route than the one she initially insisted on.
  
  Riccio's explanation of the flops: The landscape is changing and she needs to change with it.
  
  "It's always good to know what your neighbor's doing," she said.

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