Sewer of corruption ... in Kitsap County's Karcher Creek Sewer District:
Records show that taxpayers footed a $31,000 bill while board members spent three weeks jetting from Seattle to London to Munich to Salzburg, Austria. The sewer district politicians then jumped on a train to see Budapest, Hungry, and Venice, Italy, before spending five days in Paris at luxury hotels.Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at August 09, 2007 12:09 PM | Email ThisOfficially, the board was doing research on sewer systems, but after seeing our investigation, State Auditor Brian Sonntag questioned the purpose.
"Why would they do that? Why would they go there to look at systems that exist not only in this country, but in this state?
Sonntag's audit says the Karcher Creek Sewer district can't prove it did any work on at least three days of the trip, costing taxpayers an extra $3,800.
...
In addition, the audit says the Karcher Creek District violated the Washington Open Meetings Act by keeping details of the trip secret from the public.
What do untrained electeds know about sewer plants anyways? The auditor was correct in the hand slapping. At best, the elected saw how they looked, which a few pictures would have shown anyways at a much less cost.
I think Port commissioners are the worst violators.
Posted by: swatter on August 9, 2007 12:29 PMMy prime objection is this is all done with "our money" and is way beyond the job of Government. Government and public service providers need to get things done for the lowest price, in the fastest time. Costs are so high that if they were a competitive company, they would ALL be bankrupt!
"Sonntag's audit says the Karcher Creek Sewer district can't prove it did any work on at least three days of the trip"
I would hazard a guess that there was no work done on any of the days of the trip.
But why worry about these details? The trip was a boondoogle pure and simple. It's just another example of elected officials thinking they could get away with it.
There appears to be less and less accountability with Washington's elected officials. Apparently, anything goes.
Ken
Posted by: Ken on August 9, 2007 12:52 PMSonntag, you rock!
Posted by: Michele on August 9, 2007 12:53 PMI doubt it. They SHOULD be held accountable and SHOULD repay the taxpayers.
Posted by: Megs on August 9, 2007 01:04 PMyipes
Posted by: righton on August 9, 2007 01:53 PMIn fact, there should be a blanket law or administrative rule that prevents out of state or out of country trips of that nature for all committees, boards, councils,etc. including the legislature and the governor.
There's no reason to look at foreign sewers. There's enough information available in the US via other sources.
Just another reason for vote "NO" on all ballot requests for additional taxes. The politicos never know how to use it wisely.
Posted by: Clean House on August 9, 2007 02:17 PMTheirs involved a $200 million expenditure and they wanted to get it right. Or so they said.
Posted by: swatter on August 9, 2007 02:41 PMElected commissioner Jim Hart defends the trip, saying the group needed to see how the Europeans treat water and sewage.
"I think it was a very worthwhile trip and there was a lot of knowledge we got in several areas. One of things we were looking at was membrane technology."
That's great, but Kitsap County already uses the latest membrane technology at its plant. Plus, that home-site sized sewer filter, made by Huber Technologies in Germany, is not legal to use in Washington.
Posted by: Palouse on August 9, 2007 03:34 PMOh that's ok, they can always just spend more taxpayer money changing the law. =P
Good job Brian, be sure to drop your findings off with the Kipsap Co. Sheriff.
Posted by: E. Washington is Watching on August 9, 2007 04:52 PMAre these folks in a union? Kitsap Sh_t Handlers Local 234?
Posted by: Jeff B. on August 9, 2007 05:57 PMStill a screw loose in city computer system
http://dwb.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/6369958p-5682585c.html
"The contract was to be the latest in a series of expenditures that ballooned the original $50 million cost of the SAP system to more than $75 million in its first two years, according to a News Tribune analysis. Operating the system cost about another $10 million last year. The city's 2007-2008 budget designates $22.2 million for the SAP Division. The $550,000 consulting contract isn't included in that figure.
There were problems almost from the days city officials turned on the system in a two-step process during October and November of 2003."
New computers strain city's wallet, workers
http://www.thenewstribune.com/365/story/29044.html
"Tacoma's pricey upgrade causes frustration, disappointment"
Computer Costs Rise for Tacoma, Wash., Utility System.
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2930&purchase_type=ITM&item_id=0286-17179640
Some travel sure, but this is just silly.
Posted by: Giffy on August 9, 2007 08:37 PMIt was a complete waste of taxpayer money, and all involved should either pay it back or be fired.
Posted by: GS on August 9, 2007 09:43 PMThere.... FIXED.
Posted by: Right Wing Wacko on August 9, 2007 09:50 PMThere are no bidets in Federal Way to study.
Posted by: John Bailo on August 10, 2007 05:55 AMBlather on, folks.
Posted by: Sewer of Blather on August 10, 2007 11:02 AMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McEz2l1EvDs&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsayanythingblog%2Ecom%2Fentry%2Fhow%5Fdo%5Fyou%5Fget%5Ffederal%5Ffunding%5Ffor%5Fa%5Fpen%2F
http://recap.fednet.net/archive/Buildasx.asp?sProxy=80_hflr080407_172.wmv,80_hflr080407_173.wmv,80_hflr080407_174.wmv,80_hflr080407_175.wmv&sTime=00:03:54.0&eTime=00:01:38&duration=00:12:38.0&UserName=varta&sLocation=&sExpire=1
Posted by: JDH on August 10, 2007 01:06 PM"And in the meantime, Smirky McFlightsuit's war is well over a trillion."
No doubt about it. Wars are expensive.
I suppose we could all convert to Islam and save some big bucks.
Ken
Dallas
NICE retort Ken. LOL
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on August 10, 2007 01:41 PMTake a look at this article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6940061.stm
You may not think the war on terrorism is worth waging in order to preserve Western Civilization, however let's hear your take on this article which starts out -
"Eighteen men have been remanded in prison following their arrest for alleged sodomy in northern Nigeria, the state-owned news agency, Nan, reports.
The men were arrested in a hotel in north-eastern Bauchi State, which is governed by the Islamic Sharia law.
The Sharia punishment for sodomy is death by stoning.
The men, reportedly wearing women's clothes, are said to have gone to Bauchi town from neighbouring states to celebrate a "gay wedding"."
Posted by: JDH on August 10, 2007 01:50 PMTaking the whole "family" is not smart. Only takes one or two to travel the world, and learn how to pick up a turd by the clean end.
Yes, I have gone (domestically, not internationally) to witness some education programs in other parts of the country on the local taxpayers tab. I would fully defend that activity for carefully selected activities. I recall the Snoco group went to look at a treatment plant that had a very small foot print and is used in Europe. With the porcine plant that is Brightwater, King Ron should have gone with them.
Bottom line, it is occasionally appropriate but a) not the whole crew and b) only to visit the closest whatever to home.
Sewer commissioners, as well as school board member, fire district commissioners and others similarly situated give much personal time, are minimally compensated, and I don't begrudge them an occasional road trip. One year I tracked my time as a school board member, and officer in the state association--it was 33 hours a week. Thanks to my understanding employer (me) and my spouse at the time.
Geezer out, and you can be assured this is a rare bit of support for pissin' away the public buck.
Posted by: The Geezer on August 10, 2007 02:24 PMBut that's just me.
Posted by: JDH on August 10, 2007 02:31 PMWe'll give them a first hand view of the jobs they used to hold.
Posted by: GS on August 11, 2007 03:00 AM...and politicians whine about their low public image...
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on August 12, 2007 07:40 AM