KINGMAN – The City of Kingman is unable to discern the status of KDP Manager, its fractured business partner for the Interstate 40 Rancho Santa Fe traffic interchange project. Las Vegas businessmen Bill Lenhart and Bill Plise both claim they control the entity, and both pledge commitment to move forward without the other, but with the City.

It was Lenhart years ago who first worked to partner with the City as Sunbelt Development. The entity morphed into KDP Manager when Plise was added to the mix and the Development Agreement (DA) with the City of Kingman.

Plise and Lenhart are embroiled in litigation in Nevada and Arizona for company control, and an arbitration proceeding is scheduled April 1.

City officials, wanting to better understand the KDP partnership and keep the infrastructure project moving forward, summoned both Bills to Kingman for a public accounting of where things stand, somewhat like parents bringing their squabbling children before them.

Lenhart made the meeting. Plise did not. Both were represented by attorneys.

Lawyer Tom Devore told Council that Plise surprised and ambushed Lenhart with a sneak attack for control of KDP Manager, attempting to hijack what began as Lenhart’s project. Devore said Plise lacks the development acumen and finance capability that brought him into the partnership in the first place.

“It became clear due to Mr. Plise’s past bankruptcies and other financial issues that he did not have the ability to actually obtain the funding required, which again was one of his main responsibilities with the KDP entity,” Devore said.

Plise attorney Jeff Barr told Council that Lenhart’s conviction for an illegal campaign contribution to former Kingman Mayor Dick Anderson’s 2016 campaign triggered the Plise takeover attempt.

“He is a convicted criminal,” Barr said of Lenhart.

“Bill Plise is the manager of KDP Manager,” Barr told Council. “Who do you trust? A person who stands here today and is committed to finalizing this development and DA, or a convicted criminal?”

Devore complained that Plise has misinformed the City and should be severed from the equation.

Finance Director Tina Moline said the City has banked a $20-million state contribution, with the interchange portion of the Rancho Santa Fe TI and Parkway project estimated at $43 million.

Vice Mayor Cherish Sammeli expressed hope that the battle of the bickering Bills gets resolved so the City’s business partner is better defined. She said Council hopes for better news when staff updates project status in June.

“We want to make sure that the citizens know that this is a priority for Council,” the vice mayor said. “We are all unified as far as where we want to take this project, and that’s to the end. We want to get those shovels in the ground.”