An Alert Reader's comment under the photo posting caught my attention:
"I have been to their office. I reviewed the Green Play document and another report. I was asked why I wanted to see these things. I did not know that this was part of the records request policy."
That sure isn't part of their written records request policy, and for good reason: It's a violation of Idaho Code 9-338(4): "The custodian shall make no inquiry of a person who applies for a public record..."
That's very clear. No inquiry.
There seems to be a pattern to the Western Elmore County Recreation District's response to information requests- a very disturbing pattern of discouraging the examination of Your public records. Here an Alert Reader reports one more example to add to the ones we have already seen: Unnecessary copy and research charges, incredibly inconvenient hours, less than timely responses to questions, and now, (or whenever it occurred), questioning the purpose of the requestor. Another way to look at it: A body truly interested in open, transparent government would never engage in such conduct.
This pattern of conduct has the effect of denying access to information voters and taxpayers need to make informed decisions about how they will vote and how public tax dollars are spent. It is patterns of conduct like this that made the Public Records Law necessary- because a government body immune from scrutiny is a very dangerous thing.
Kind of chilling, isn't it?
Update: Embedded a link to an article on certain characteristics which seem to be present in this District.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It is chilling and it made me very uncomfortable. Then, I found out I was only given a portion of the GreenPlay Report and had to go back to get the part with the figures.
ReplyDeleteThese people are not being honest with the public at all. It is like a game of Hide and Seek with them. I do not know enough about the subject to know when I have been given only part of the information. So, I read what I thought was the Green Play Report (2 or 3 pages) and was wondering why that cost $13,000. It seemed like a waste a money to me. I ran into Ms. Lauric and she told me the report was more than 2-3 pages.
Public information should not be like an Easter Egg hunt to get. If you ask for something, you should get all of it or what pertains to that request and you should not get the 3rd degree on why you have asked for it.
Does anybody know how many photos the WECRD got for over $700.00? That is such an abuse of taxpayers trust to spend that on a photo or even 10 photos. This really bothers me. This group has all of this money and we are going to cut education! Complete abuse of public trust. The 3 old nags should really feel bad.
How can they charge OM so much money when she is doing what she does as a public service and for public awareness?
ReplyDeleteI work. I cannot get into their office in the middle of the day 3 days per week.
Was it legal to charge that? Is this what they are going to do to all members of the public or was this only because of who the person requesting the information was? I think that is awful and was done so she would not get the information because of the cost. The copy charge is enough. Their secretary is already paid by the taxpayers of the recreation district. That is enough plus the copy charge.
It may have been 'legal'- but it was completely unnecessary- and uncalled for. The only logical explanation is to discourage scrutiny.
ReplyDeleteOn the inquiry made of the requestor- Silence strongly encourages the Alert Reader who was made to feel uncomfortable to document and report this conduct to the prosecutor or the attorney general- so they know.
TITLE 31
ReplyDeleteCOUNTIES AND COUNTY LAW
CHAPTER 43
RECREATION DISTRICTS
31-4310.President of board -- Duties. The president shall be the executive officer of the district, shall preside at all board meetings, shall countersign all checks for expenditure of district funds when such expenditure has been legally authorized and shall perform all other duties which are provided in this act to be performed by the president or which are directed or authorized by the board. The vice president shall act in the absence of the president and shall perform all other duties which are directed or authorized by the board.
So why does Marsha Sellers seem to run things when Jana is the VP and Mollie is the President? That is not in accordance with the law either. Why waste time reporting these people? Nobody is going to do anything to them. They are above the law by Idaho Standards (if there were any).
Why ask why? They do not follow any rules and do wantever they want with taxpayer money and the local prosecutor won't even question them when she has complaints against them. Big government mentality at it's best. Shut up while we take your money and we arent accountable to anyone.
ReplyDeleteIs this blog written by Opinion Missy, a.k.a. Tracy Lauric of Mountain Home, Id? This is a poorly structured rant. Lauric's crusade is Quixotic, and, in future comments, I'll refer to her as "Dawn Peyote", with appologies to Miguel de Cervantes.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, this is OM and this is NOT my blog. I take credit (good or bad) for the things that I do and the things that I say. I do not need to "hide" behind an "annon" screen name/blog (I do have my own blog on this topic however and even sign my name to it). Be more informed before you make such ill-informed assumptions. If you had any nerve, you would have signed your name to your post and taken credit for your post. It is always funny to see what people will write when they do not have to put their name to it. No guts, no glory.
ReplyDeleteProudly,
OM
OM again. This information on this web site is based on fact. I paid the $70.00 (plus $4.20 in copy charges) for the info and promptly distributed it to 75 of my closest friends. So, you may not like how this person has presented the FACTS...but we cannot change those facts. They are what they are.
ReplyDeleteAttend the next WECRD Board Meeting this Weds. at 7:00 and see for yourself. Hard to imagine that we got 3 of the dumbest, least business minded people in Elmore County to run a million dollar operation. After 9 years, still nothing and they could not even give $100 bucks to the kids for sports. Yes, very impressive. Maybe they should have hired a PR person afterall. They have made their bed.
This is not OM's blog- but she has obtained the documents exposing questionable conduct of the Directors. Call what she does anything you like- 'crusade' or whatever. Call that Quixotic, or whatever. Call her whatever name you will (and watch the post get deleted). Calling names and questioning motives is classic misdirection and diversion. And it doesn't change what the Directors have done, and, what the District still has NOT done-provide recreation. Silence forgives your inability to discern that as the focus of this poorly structured rant. Facts, please?
ReplyDelete"apologies" has but one "p", by the way. Your slip is showing.