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Sunday, September 13, 2009

Ind. gov't. - Stories about access to information in Fort Wayne

"City eyes court battle for I&M data: Litigation next step in quest for info on utility system, consultant says" is the headline to a complex story by Benjamin Lanka, published by the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette on Sept. 3rd. A few quotes:

Indiana Michigan Power’s refusal to release information about Fort Wayne’s former electric utility will lead to a court battle, according to a city-paid consultant.

Anand Gangadharan, president and chief executive officer of Novi Energy, told the Fort Wayne Board of Public Works on Wednesday that he has been unable to get information from I&M despite numerous requests. Instead of getting details on the private utility’s upgrades to the former city electricity system, for example, his company has had to rely on looking at power lines and substations in person, often from behind fences. * * *

Under a lease signed in 1974, the city’s electric power grid – formerly run by City Light – was turned over to Indiana & Michigan Electric Co. That lease expires in March. Mayor Tom Henry has said the city will seek bids from electric providers to get the best deal for residents and customers.

Novi Energy, of Novi, Mich., was hired in June for $95,000 to examine the assets of the City Light area as the city investigates leasing those assets to a new power firm. The board also approved a $33,980 contract in October with R.E. Pender Inc., of Winter Park, Fla., to help analyze the value of the city’s old electric utility infrastructure.

See also this Sept. 8th column by Kevin Leininger of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel.

"Government transparency essential" is the headline to this editorial today in the Journal Gazette. It begins:
City officials hinting that proposed legislation to increase government transparency hampers economic development and leans toward micromanagement by the City Council have only themselves to blame.

There are too many recent instances where the city administration needed to be more forthcoming with details about how the city was spending public dollars on professional contracts. Council members are right to ask for greater disclosure from Mayor Tom Henry’s administration and appear prepared to make reasonable allowances to protect economic development efforts.

Councilwoman Liz Brown, R-at large, proposed legislation requiring the city administration to share more information with the Fort Wayne City Council about city consultant contracts. Currently, the law requires council approval only for contracts of more than $100,000 per year. Otherwise, council members might never know the identities of consultants, lobbyists, attorneys or other professionals the city is hiring and compensating with public dollars.

The ordinance, introduced in June and discussed Tuesday, requires the administration to create a monthly list of professional-service contracts for the council. Council members decided to table the legislation until a future meeting.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 13, 2009 10:54 AM
Posted to Indiana Government