The Texas community of Colony Ridge has recently come under scrutiny for its handling of taxpayer funds, with allegations of nepotism and conflict of interest involving a local government board and a private paving company. This development, known for attracting a significant number of illegal immigrants, has seen more than $16 million in taxpayer funds directed to a company linked to family members of the development’s leaders.
William “Trey” Harris, the developer behind Colony Ridge, along with his associates, holds positions on a local government board established for the community. This board, which has the authority to levy taxes and allocate funds, has been accused of funneling taxpayer money to a private paving company, Liberty Paving LLC, which has financial ties to the Harris family. These connections were revealed in documents reviewed by The Daily Wire.
The area north of Houston, where Colony Ridge is located, has been a focal point for various state and federal officials, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The development is marketed primarily in Spanish to individuals without social security numbers, offering affordable land plots. This marketing strategy, coupled with the community’s rapid growth, has drawn the attention of various media outlets and government officials.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been critical of the local legislators, accusing them of enabling Colony Ridge to function almost autonomously and enriching specific developers at the public’s expense.
Central to the controversy is Trey Harris, who not only owns Colony Ridge but also chairs the municipal management board overseeing it. Investigation by The Daily Wire uncovered that the board unanimously voted to award contracts worth millions to Liberty Paving, a company linked to John Harris, Trey’s brother and co-owner of Colony Ridge. John Harris also manages Liberty Paving through T-Rex Management.
Another board member, Savannah Crihfield, has also voted for contracts favoring Liberty Paving. Crihfield’s firm, CH&P Management, is the registered agent for both Liberty Paving and Colony Ridge Development LLC. Additionally, public records and obituaries suggest familial ties between Crihfield and the Harris brothers, though they did not respond to inquiries regarding their relationship.
Patrick Thiel, an executive of Liberty Paving, serves on the utility board of Colony Ridge, further deepening the connections between the company and the development’s governance. The management and utility boards, which have exhibited close cooperation, have recently initiated efforts to merge into a single entity, a process facilitated by representatives of Colony Ridge.
Despite the substantial contracts awarded to Liberty Paving, no disclosures of conflicts of interest or recusals were recorded in the meeting minutes. The management board, known as Liberty County Municipal Management District No. 1, was established in 2017 through legislation authored by State Representative Ernest Bailes, who has financial connections with Colony Ridge and related entities.
The intertwining relationships and financial dealings involving Colony Ridge, Liberty Paving, and the local government boards raise questions about the use of taxpayer funds and the potential conflicts of interest among those in positions of power within the community. Neither Trey Harris, John Harris, Crihfield, nor Thiel responded to requests for comment on these matters.