Taos Citizens Seek Grand Jury Investigation

(Breaking News) Concerned Citizens in Taos are seeking a grand jury investigation of the KCEC/Town of Taos Command Center Deal. Apparently the request has been spurred by what some see as irresponsible fiscal management on the part of the town. You can see and sign online at: www.ipetitions.com/petition/commandcenter

THE PETITION

RESIDENTS OF TAOS COUNTY PETITION FOR GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION



We, the undersigned residents of the Town of Taos and Taos County, request that a Grand Jury be called to investigate the following facts concerning the circumstances surrounding the Town Council’s approval of the Command Center lease between Kit Carson Electric and the Town of Taos on August 8, 2011.




a. Certain documents were withheld from the citizens of Taos County and members of the Town Council, to-wit: a 2010 letter from Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) specifying the cost to move the Command Center at $850,000; a document from Kit Carson Electric entitled “Preliminary Proposal for Town of Taos – Command Center”.




b. If the DFA’s $850,000 estimate was believed to be inaccurate, a bid or firm estimate obtained from someone qualified to furnish a bid or estimate was never obtained. A letter mentioning a $50,000 estimate was never produced. 




c. Neither a cost/benefit analysis nor a method of financing the obligations created by the Command Center was resolved prior to approval of the lease.




d. It was never determined why a space of 4,500 square feet (at a rent of $5,000 per month) was needed for a dispatch center which now occupies a space of less than 1,000 square feet (rent free) and needs only 100 extra square feet for storage.

Critical information enabling an informed decision concerning this very expensive project has been systematically withheld from the Citizens of Taos County and the Town Council. Some of our leaders have violated the trust of the citizens of Taos County.

(Deep Background: The letter below concerns yesterday’s Sept. 13, 2011 PRC hearing. Apparently Commissioner Ben Hall chastised KCEC CEO Luis Reyes for mismanagement re: Propane losses, then, ironically, coming to the PRC for a rate increase. Mr. Lucero, below, is an activist, who has urged the PRC to implement controls of the Coop’s loose fiscal management style. None of the KCEC Trustees, aka Jiggle Juggles, were present.)

Mr. Huffman,

Yesterday you did a good job of explaining your report.
I also must concur with Miss Beadles last submittal about the outside businesses.

I must also comment on the comments that Commissioner Hall made on the record about continued losses in the propane business. He was right on with his comments!

In summary I hope that the commisioners along with their approval of the rate increase will also set some benchmarks about reduction in board expenses and set some controls about the continued losses in all outside ventures for it is ONLY THE PRC THAT CAN MONITOR the goings on at this Coop since Luis and his overwhelmed board will not

Thanks to Mr. Huffman, Cydney Beadles, John Reynolds and especially to commissioner Marks for doing his job.

Jerome Lucero- I look forward to the final report/vote