Washington County Commissioner President John Barr has some explaining to do about his involvement with a private developer that was doing business with the county.
A February 26, 2019 Washington County presentation identifies Barr, then president of Ellsworth Electric, as chairman of the Cascade Town Centre Development Advisory Group, associated with JG Business Link International (JGBLI), the company behind the proposed redevelopment of the former Fort Ritchie property.
The county entered into a master developer agreement with JGBLI in 2016 and transferred approximately 63 acres to the company in 2017.
So what exactly was Barr doing as chairman of the developer’s advisory group? Was he paid? Did Ellsworth Electric receive any contracts or other business connected to the project? And did Barr disclose his involvement when county matters involving JGBLI came before the commissioners?
These are reasonable questions for someone who now serves as president of the Washington County Board of County Commissioners, particularly given the county’s history of doing business with the developer.
When the president of the Washington County Commissioners previously chaired an advisory group associated with a developer doing business with the county, residents deserve a full accounting of that relationship.
Barr Voted on a County Agreement Involving a Developer His Family’s Electrical Company Was Working For
Barr’s ties to JGBLI didn’t end with his role as chairman of the developer’s advisory group. As Radio Free Hub City reported on May 21, 2026, Ellsworth Electric filed permits in 2025 to install new 200-amp underground electrical services at two JGBLI-owned properties, 14235 and 14237 Cushman Avenue. Both contracts were reportedly still open when Barr voted on a county agreement involving the development.
Ellsworth Electric is still owned by the Barr family. According to the company’s website, Jonny Barr is its president and owner, while Beth Barr serves as human resources manager.
On May 21, 2026, Barr voted in favor of an amended agreement between Washington County and JGBLI involving sewer infrastructure improvements for the Cascade Town Centre development, including Lots 2-A through 2-V. Barr did not recuse himself, despite his family’s electrical company reportedly having two active contracts involving properties within that development.
Apparently, Barr had a different view of potential conflicts of interest four months later. On September 15, 2026, he abstained from a vote involving $1.25 million in state funding for Cascade Town Centre, specifically citing his electrical contracting business.
So why was his electrical contracting business a reason to abstain in September but not in May? And considering Barr previously chaired JGBLI’s development advisory group, how many other county decisions involving the developer has he participated in without disclosing those relationships?
Barr owes Washington County residents an explanation of his relationship with JGBLI, his family's business dealings with the developer, and why he apparently considered those relationships a conflict of interest in September but not in May.
Yup. I smell corruption.