MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

Editorials

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April 7, 2011

Open meeting laws exist to protect us

The news that the Fort Gibson mayor and a town trustee may have violated a state law when they submitted change orders for a project may seem like a “no harm, no foul” thing. But the law exists to ensure that everything is done correctly. When it comes to the public’s money, transparency is job one.

Mayor Steven Hill and Town Trustee Brad Clinkenbeard submitted project change orders for state approval without authorization from the entire board, said Trustee Theda Rowan. The change orders reduced the project from $468,971 to $374,310.20 by substituting stamped concrete for the proposed brick sidewalks and changing the lamp posts to be installed.

The board approved the change orders at its March 14 meeting. Trustees were notified the next day that the Oklahoma Department of Transportation had also approved them. Rowan said it was apparent the change orders had been submitted to the state before the Fort Gibson board approved them.

Again, we’d like to point out this wasn’t done with malicious intent. This wasn’t some shady, backroom deal that duped Fort Gibson citizens.

It may seem like jumping through hoops. But elected officials should have enough sense to do it correctly.

And we suspect next time they will.

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