In an editorial today, the Journal Gazette added it’s voice calling for the release of environmental studies results on the OmniSource property…
City residents paid nearly $50,000 for a consultant to study the extent of contamination at a key near-downtown site long pegged for a major development. City officials have no good reason to conceal the results of those environmental studies from the people who paid for them.
[...]
The city refuses to release the results of the environmental studies, writing that state open records law allows the city to keep secret information “created for economic development commissions who are engaged in negotiations with a commercial prospect and are expressions of opinion communicated for the purpose of decision making.”
While the studies may technically fit that definition, withholding the information hurts citizens – and officials pursuing a purchase of the property – much more than releasing it.
[...]
In his waning hours as mayor, Graham Richard should release the study. If he doesn’t, Tom Henry could go far toward establishing a firm position favoring open government by releasing the studies.
[...]
Involving the public at each step should include informing citizens about the extent of contamination and should help build support for the project. Withholding information only breeds distrust.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
The local blogging community has also addressed the issue:
Allen County Libertarians
The city must disclose what’s in the environmental studyFort Wayne Left
Does Tom Henry Believe in Open Government?Fort Wayne News
Bend over.. here it comes
The Journal Gazette, Libertarians, Democrats, and Republicans all in agreement? Do I see a consensus on this issue? Has Hell finally frozen over?
Great look!
I use WordPress, and I am pretty happy with it. I just need to spring for Photoshop when I have a few extra hundred dollars.
I have been blogging about the environmental study. But what may cut the discussion short is that I noticed that one of your posts mentioned that the property was to be conveyed “as is.” If that is accurate, then the purchase would probably be made with the requirement that the City clean up whatever mess exists.
I would really hate to think that city officials entered into such a lopsided bargain, which would let OmniSource off the hook.
Dave:
The time stamp is wrong, and I think you have to go in and change the time setting to reflect the number of hours from GMT.
Thanks Charlotte. Forgot to change the time. Looks like it’s correct now.
Charlotte,
The city claims it cannot disclose testing results because negotiations are “ongoing.” I presume the six month extension retains this position. The question remains, exactly WHAT is negotiable…the purchase price? cleanup responsibility?
Many across party lines are concerned about the lopsided arrangement. Why should the current property owner enjoy the lionshare of the benefits while Fort Wayne taxpayers pick up the costs and risks?
The Richard Administration may have been less than forthcoming with the testing results. That being said, I know John Urbahns and have a tremendous amount of respect for him. He is a man of upstanding character and integrity. I am more at ease knowing he will be overseeing at least some aspects of the process.