[Vision2020] (no subject)

[Jeff Harkins]

Hi Saundra,

I drop down to the point you brought me in to the post.


>In the meantime, Mr. Harkins, since you seem to think both (e) and 
>(f) justify exceptions to the Open Meeting Law with respect to the 
>Hawkins settlement agreement, perhaps you'd care to share how you 
>envision the sewer services negotiations as meeting the exception criteria.
>

While somewhat technical, I am going to respond according to the 
applicable professional standards for this issue. The sewer division 
of the water and sewer services provided by the city of Moscow are 
operated as and accounted for as an Enterprise Fund.  Under 
Governmental Accounting Standards Board [GASB] protocols, proprietary 
funds are used "... to account for governmental activities that are 
similar to activities that may be performed by a commercial 
enterprise.  For example, a hospital may be operated by a 
governmental unit, such as a city, or by a profit-oriented 
corporation.  The accounting and reporting standards used by a 
proprietary fund and a business enterprise are similar because the 
activities performed are basically the same." [GAAP Guide, 2003, Sec 25.02]

Moscow City currently serves the sewer needs of Moscow as a 
monopoly.  It might be interesting if Whitman County decided to get 
competitive with Moscow by constructing their own sewer treatment 
facility.  Not all that much of a reach - if we fail to meet EPA 
standards (and as I am told, we are operating on an extension of 
standards), it is conceivable that Whitman could build a state of the 
art facility and offer that facility to Moscow.  I know if I were 
working with the economic planners on the west side of our border, I 
would certainly advise them to do a business plan.  If they can treat 
sewage better than we can, we might be forced to up our investment to 
meet standards or buy from them.  The protocol reached by the Moscow 
City Council seems to have diverted that pressure - at least in the 
near term.

Furthermore, it makes more sense (and cents) to me to cooperate and 
collaborate with Whitman County to share in developing appropriate 
waste treatment.  The dollars on both sides of the border would go 
farther and we would get better waste treatment for all.  It seems 
that the protocol moves us in that direction.

>
>
>Saundra Lund
>Moscow, ID
>
>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people 
>to do nothing.
>~ Edmund Burke
>
>***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2008 through 
>life plus 70 years, Saundra Lund.  Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or 
>reproduce outside the Vision 2020 forum without the express written 
>permission of the author.*****
>
>From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com 
>[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Sue Hovey
>Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2008 1:15 PM
>To: vision2020 at moscow.com; Jeff Harkins
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] (no subject)
>
>Well e involves competition with other public bodies and f involves 
>imminant litigation, so how do those fit?  Certainly none of the 
>other options do, but even so, looks like a stretch to me.
>
>Sue H
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:jeffh at moscow.com>Jeff Harkins
>To: <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>vision2020 at moscow.com
>Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 7:13 PM
>Subject: [Vision2020] (no subject)
>
>To those interested, it would appear that items e and f of the state 
>statute for executive sessions would be applicable.
>
>(e)  To consider preliminary negotiations involving matters of
>trade or commerce in which the governing body is in competition with
>governing bodies in other states or nations;
>(f)  To communicate with legal counsel for the public agency to
>discuss the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending
>litigation, or controversies not yet being litigated but imminently 
>likely to be
>litigated. The mere presence of legal counsel at an executive
>session does not satisfy this requirement;
>
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