Jessica at Coast Lake News sent me an article written by two investigative journalists who, a couple of years back, uncovered a big scandal within an economic development council in San Diego. She thought I would be interested in their account of a “rolling investigation” which eventually led to indictments and arrests and the hurdles these journalists had to jump to obtain what should have been readily available public records.
The pair who write for the Voice of San Diego did not begin their investigation by assuming any criminal activity had occurred, they merely questioned the prudence or value of various deals involving public money and reported their findings to their readers. However, the more roadblocks were thrown to avoid answering questions, obviously the more suspicious they became and after two years of dogged digging, FOIA requests, public records requests and some help from a few honest public officials, they hit big news story pay dirt.
Sadly, while I am not looking for or expecting criminal activity I have found obtaining information from a couple of local economic development agencies, the Port of Coos Bay and SCDC, problematic. SCDC, a non profit organization is required by law to release its financial records and while I was able to obtain a copy of a 990 filing online I have yet to see their budget or a list of their donors despite a promise last year from director Sandy Messerle. Messerle has ignored my requests as she has ignored the requests of several other people leading one to wonder what SCDC is hiding and why?
In an effort to learn what if any due diligence the Port conducted before declaring a state of emergency to bypass competitive bidding rules to repair the Coos Bay Rail Link on behalf of Roseburg Forest Products, I was first told the information was confidential because the Port had signed a non-disclosure agreement with the applicant. When I requested copies of the NDA and the application on June 27 I was ignored for a month before I sent a second request only to learn there was no NDA and there was no application for service from RFP. Additionally I learned that RFP was still in the process of negotiating overseas contracts belying both the emergency and evidently any due diligence on the part of the Port.
Out of frustration I submitted an appeal of denial to the Oregon Attorney General and a representative spoke with Port counsel on my behalf. Counsel advised the AG that the Port probably hadn’t handled my request correctly and if I resubmitted my request for any documentation, a confirmed vetted buyer, a public benefits analysis, even a bloody cocktail napkin showing the Port did proper due diligence the Port would reconsider my request. The deadline for receiving this information has passed with an email from Elise Hamner telling me that Port counsel is still reviewing my request. The probability that no documentation exists is pretty high, in my estimation, which is distressing when you consider that quite a bit of public money is being invested on a whim and a prayer but it would save everyone a lot of time if the Port would just say so or produce the paperwork.
Now the County is behaving strangely and refusing to provide the names of an interview panel formed to select the new county counselor, Oubonh White.
An email I sent yesterday to the commissioners and Bobbi Brooks, assistant to the commissioners, requesting information about who was on the panel has gone unanswered. According to a reader who placed a call to Brooks, she informed the caller that she had been inundated with requests for this information and had been told to “sit on it”.
Late this afternoon in response to a second email asking for the number of panelists I received a response from Bob Main with a carbon copy to HR director, Mike Lehman.
I am out of the office, Mike Lehman should be able to help you.
Sent from my iPhone
It is regrettable Main could not have just answered my question since he took the time to send an email and defer the problem to Lehman and naturally, my email to Lehman has so far gone unanswered. Main took the time to send a similar email to another person with the same query. So why wouldn’t Main just answer the question? What is the county hiding and why?
Commissioner Parry copied me earlier an email to Brooks asking her to provide me with information I need. Yet I still have not received an answer from Brooks or Lehman and Commissioner Messerle, like his wife Sandy Messerle doesn’t bother to return emails.
UPDATE: From Mike Lehman
Here are the particulars –
1. The panel was composed of the three commissioners (Bob Main, Cam Parry and Fred Messerle); Paul Frasier, DA; Steve Jansen, Assessor; Teri Turi, County Clerk and Craig Zanni, Sheriff. We had asked another elected official and a former county counsel to sit on the panel however, they were unavailable on the interview date.
2. When applications closed on August 1, 2011 there were a total of 4 applicants for the position, 3 were interviewed on 8/25/11 in executive session under ORS 192.660 (2) (a).
3. At the conclusion of the interview process in Open Session the Board authorized me, as HR Director to tender an offer of employment to Oubonh White and negotiate the terms. If I was able to get an acceptable agreement, the Board would consider it at their meeting on August 30, 2011.
4. At the Board of Commissioners meeting on August 30, 2011 I reported the results of my discussion and the Board (Bob Main and Fred Messerle) passed a resolution to hire Oubonh White.
5. The announcement for the position was posted: (1) Coos County Website and bulletin board; (2) the World Newspaper; (3)Oregonian Newspaper;(4) Register Guard Newspaper; (5)Oregon Law Schools: (6) Employment Division; (7) Craigs List and (8) was sent out to several list serves like Association of Oregon Counties.
Some snooping will bring up some really scary details of what is going on here and how some of the shops have been able to stay afloat even with the downturn of economy. There is some shady stuff going on behind the scenes and that is my gut feeling. Plus a glimpse here and there and catching something that looks not right and suspicious, no facts needed for me.
Mary, you ought to check into CCCOG Coos Curry Council of Governments chaired by I believe Sandy Dietrich many years ago. There was a big scandal from that very similar to many areas – possibly even San Diego. Needless to say, this “wonderful” organization which could have been helpful was dismantled, don’t remember if there were criminal or even civil penalties but it was a bit deal back then. I wonder if SCBEC was part of that with JJ McCloud (sp?) who has headed it for some time and who is on the structure committee with Big Boy Barton. It might interest citizens that the Commissioners serve as the Board of Directors for this “service” to Coos & Curry counties. Interesting how everything is sort of “linked” or perhaps incestuous around here isn’t it? I guess there are only a “limited” amount of people who will elicit the “right” responses for the BOC.
Received word that Cam is in DC. Anyone know the purpose of the trip?
If you don’t want to see corruption around these parts, I suggest you keep your eyes shut, or squint real hard and wear leather blinders, like the ones they put on horses and mules.
This bi-partisan epidemic form of rule by committee government, is failing all over the country, just ask Obama how well its been going for him. Coos County is getting to the game late. people are starting to unstrap the blinders, and some (MGX) are pulling back the curtain. I think “they” should just go ahead and form their own SUPER committee, the more layers to the onion, the harder it is to peel, the longer it survives, and we get gassed and oiled for another hundred years.