Here’s what open government looks like now in Clark County

Now, I can’t fault Kelly Sills, Clark County’s economic development director, for his handwriting. He didn’t think that his notes would end up being the subject of a public disclosure request, because I’ve never had to file a public disclosure request for notes taken during commissioner board time. Why? Because commissioners used to make newsworthy decisions during their Tuesday meetings. If they did make a decision at board time, they would make sure a reporter, serving as the eyes and ears of the public, was at board time.

But this is a new board of commissioners.

So we have Sills’ notes from the Jan. 16 board time to show the process that resulted in Commissioners David Madore and Tom Mielke ending funding for the Columbia River Economic Development Council. Commissioner Steve Stuart was at a meeting in Olympia. Reporter Erik Hidle was unable to make board time as well.

From what I can decipher from Sills’ notes, Madore came to him on Jan. 15 and told him he wanted to terminate the contract with CREDC because they support the Columbia River Crossing, which includes light rail. Sills checked with Bronson Potter, the county’s chief civil deputy prosecutor, who said the county can send a letter to the CREDC to notify officials that the county is putting the contract on hold. Sills wrote, “Between lines: halt the contract different than termin.” (terminate.)

Well, now we know why Mielke was so touchy about the word “cuts” in the headline.

I also received notes from County Administrator Bill Barron. Thank you, Bill, for your neat handwriting.