According to The World, interim planning director, Jill Rolfe, says a fee reduction imposed by Commissioner Fred Messerle would have a negligible cost of less than $5,000. However, Rolfe analysis of the cost to the department was the basis of $20,760 invoice which was paid for out of the general fund catch all known as the 9900 account under contract services.

The invoice bills for 1,384 hours for “Reduced hourly rate at the request of the Board. The diffrence should be made up out of the general fund”. Where the $5,000 figure comes from is a mystery.

June 12, 2012 Planning invoice The invoice amount comprises 24% of the $88,000 impressed balance the department is required to begin each fiscal year.

Regardless of the significance of the amount the real issue is how poorly this matter was handled by Messerle. Whether you agree with him or not that the taxpayer should share the burden of keeping the doors open at the planning department the manner in which he went about it demonstrates very bad management skills. Bypassing the budget committee, coupled with the public relations mess associated with not discussing it with the taxpayers first have bitten him with some negative press. All he needs next is a complaint to OGEC about the obvious conflict of interest associated with his decision and his real job, the family business.