Story Published:
Aug 27, 2010 at 10:11 PM MST
Story Updated:
Aug 28, 2010 at 1:26 PM MST
BILLINGS - Contractors file more than a million dollars worth of liens on the site of a summer music festival outside Roberts.
Bullpen Rally organizer Mike Decker set out to hold a massive music festival. Despite legal disputes and inspection issues, the concert started nearly on time.
However, contractors said payment hasn't been as prompt. Kallevig Excavation and Sowles Construction have filed liens on the property outside Roberts. Sam Kallevig said his company and others are owed a total of $874,328.00. Sowles Construction filed for $168,178.00.
John Dubsky is a contractor who billed Mike Decker for a little more than $5,000. "There are more than a dozen others that are struggling to get their money from him too, nobody has any idea where all the money went," he said. Dubsky said he quit over a payment dispute before the concert began.
"It's not a question of 'hey, he got a bunch of money and didn't pay anybody,'" said investor Michelle Holpzinger, "it's simply there wasn't enough people that showed up, so there wasn't any money to pay." "I'm sure he'll pay everyone in full at some point in time," she said and added that she didn't know when that might be.
Holpzinger said she hasn't seen a dime either, but was impressed with Decker. She said pulling off the concert was quite the feat. The show was planned in a shorter period than normal and large in scope.
"He gave everybody just a little bit of money to keep going and kept promising, promising that as soon as the Bull Pen Rally was over he was going to pay off everyone," said Dubsky. The concert ended, but the dispute was just beginning.
Multiple contractors said Decker told them they'd be paid after the Sturgis Rally. We can't confirm that because multiple calls to Mr. Decker have gone unreturned. Mr. Decker is commonly out of touch because he works with a railroad company in Wyoming.
The contractors KULR-8 spoke with said his explanation was that investors had money tied up in that event as well. "Being a general contractor and developer myself, I know there are some times when things get a little tough and it may take a little longer to get people paid," said Holpzinger.
"He can sell an ice cube to an Eskimo," said Dubsky.
The contractors waited again, but when the Sturgis Rally ended they said they still hadn't been paid. The liens followed shortly thereafter. They're placed on the site of the Bull Pen Rally, a property owned by Double D Development L.L.C., not Decker. Decker leased the land.
"Unfortunately we have to drag the land owners into the situation, but we gotta do what we gotta do," said Dubsky. If the contractors’ claims are found valid, the property could be subject to a foreclosure sale. The company did not respond to a message seeking comment.
Holpzinger said contractors should have known late payment was a risk at any event, and that payment can be slow if a show doesn't generate as much revenue as expected. She said big events rarely make money in the first year and would consider re-investing.
"Mike didn't intentionally do anything to make this event fail, in fact, he did the opposite," said Holpzinger, "he did everything possible to make it a success."
In order to file the liens, contractors had to notify Mr. Decker and the group that owns the land. If Decker or company management decide to challenge the liens, contractors would have to provide further proof of the debts.
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