Like an old dog, Matanuska Electric Association keeps returning to its same old tricks.
For the past few weeks, MEA has been gathering signatures to repeal the Mat-Su Borough ordinance regulating power plants. While the cooperative’s lone petition taker has acquired many signatures, the methods have hardly been ethical. Many people, including one of my family members, were told that the petition would “create a gas plant.”
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MEA spokesperson Lorali Carter says the official pitch was different: “Sign this referendum to repeal the Borough’s power plant ordinance so that MEA can move ahead with their gas plant.”
Carter waved aside any ethical lapses in the signature-gathering process, stating that the canvasser simply had 10 seconds to make his pitch. Perhaps, she said, the canvasser couldn’t squeeze in all the relevant information.
Ah, yes, the relevant information — like, the truth.
The truth is the power plant ordinance was created as a direct result of MEA’s proposal to build a coal plant. It was not directed at any potential gas plant. The Borough has repeatedly offered to work with MEA on building a gas-fired power plant.
Carter states that she called the signature gatherer and “went over the pitch.” Oh, that’s a relief. Despite the fact that dozens or more signatures were collected in a misleading manner, the gathering will go on. And those signatures will, of course, remain.
Typical MEA.
When its bluff is called officials slither around the truth, do nothing to rectify the past and move on with its plan — in this case it is to abolish the power plant ordinance. MEA’s management seems to care nothing for ethics. As long as MEA’s will is accomplished, then the ends justify the means. And those means are more than suspicious.
First, MEA is paying gatherers $1 per signature. That’s nearly $2,000 of your money going towards a political initiative, whether you support it or not.
Second, MEA management specifically told employees to go over to the Borough and collect signature booklets, on company time (once again, that’s your electric bill at work).
You have to wonder why MEA is so gung-ho about this petition. MEA claims the ordinance will cost up to $11 million to comply with. While it would be nice to think that MEA is trying to save you money, keep in mind this same organization annually spends millions on lawsuits and hundreds of thousands of dollars on self-aggrandizing commercials and campaigns (which often feature a member who just happens to be running for re-election).
Oh, and other utilities in the state have looked at MEA’s proposal and believe $11 million is a stretch, a long one.
So why the facade? What is MEA really going after? Why is it eschewing the Borough’s offer to work together on a gas-fired power plant? What does MEA really want?
In order to answer the question, we need to go back to August 2007, when MEA filed an initiative that would have placed every new Borough land use ordinance proposal on the ballot. The reason was simple: MEA wanted to override the Borough’s power plant ordinance, which was aimed at stopping its plans to build a coal-fired generation plant.
The Borough clerk declared MEA’s initiative unconstitutional. MEA reacted to the Borough’s decision with its usual fiscally conservative manner by suing the Borough clerk for obeying the law. Why did it sue? Because MEA’s management will do anything to get the coal plant back on the table. MEA’s current petition, whether gathered in an ethical manner or not, is the only shot at breathing life into the co-op’s fuel of choice.
Folks, it’s time for this charade to end. It’s time for MEA management to stop its games, lies and complete disregard for ethics.
In reality, the only way to rein in MEA management is to change the makeup of the board. Come February, we must vote for board members who have a proven record of honesty and openness.
Darin Markwardt is a Palmer resident.
Comments
11 comment(s)Which Original Comments... wrote on Jan 29, 2008 9:37 PM:
Publius wrote on Jan 29, 2008 4:24 PM:
"Trust but verify..." "
To "Publius" wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:47 PM:
"Self-important people, without legal authority, make life costly for the public who they claim to serve.
This is an example of the self-centered haughtiness and blind ignorance of tyranny." "
MEA-Sues-Clerk Case Background wrote on Jan 29, 2008 9:17 AM:
Not a job description, but wrote on Jan 29, 2008 9:05 AM:
Publius wrote on Jan 28, 2008 11:20 PM:
http://www.matsugov.us/Clerk/
"The Borough Assembly...appoints the Borough Clerk."No surprise that there's an anti-MEA bias with "Friends of Matsu" on the assembly to make appointments.
General Mandated Duties of the Borough:
"Administers all Borough Elections. The Clerk also prepares petitions and verifies signatures for initiatives, referendum, and recall elections."
Where does declaration of constitutionality fit?
Markwardt hyperbole perhaps?
Is the Borough Seal properly guarded? The world wonders... "
Not Quite True wrote on Jan 28, 2008 11:59 AM:
Publius wrote on Jan 27, 2008 11:11 PM:
Answer:
Borough clerks should stick to filing paperwork and not enter into judicial constitutional-law decisions. She clearly over-stepped her authority and MEA rightly sued.
She obviously thought herself far above the judicial or legislative processes since she took illegal actions.
Self-important people, without legal authority, make life costly for the public who they claim to serve.
This is an example of the self-centered haughtiness and blind ignorance of tyranny.
"
Dump the MEA cronies wrote on Jan 25, 2008 10:50 PM:
So if I were the MEA's lone signature gatherer, I would fly in the opposite direction as fast as possible or bail before the plane is engulfed in flames and crashes.
MEA is as corrupt as Republican Party politics, but I repeat myself. "
Wasilla27 wrote on Jan 25, 2008 10:00 PM:
dab wrote on Jan 25, 2008 6:47 PM: