PUD #2, “The Funny Farm”

Commissioner Ron Hatfield reading a rant against a ‘small group of rate payers’ calling him a rubber stamp…oh horrors. He believes that serving on the PUD commissioners for over thirty years, and being Chair many times proves that he is no rubberstamp. Well, he received a well-deserved laugh for his presentation. This was followed by a very long display of trivia, reading opening bids and saying the numbers twice, and watching the commissioners writing the numbers down. After the commissioners were told the staff will review and make recommendation at next meeting…wonderful. This was like watching a keystone cop movie.

This was followed by Commissioner Diana Thompson opening the meeting for public comment, but limiting to five minutes per person. As in the past, many questions were asked, no answers. But wait the Commissioner Attorney actually spoke, and was not reading the paper, and did not nap as in past meetings. Oh by the way the attorney, Jim Finlay, receives $1,224/month, and over the past seven years, $128,993. He was defending his payment into the PUD #2 for health insurance; although some say he is not qualified to be a member. This may not be against the law, but flunks the smell test. That was some comedy.

It was my turn to speak, I started by commenting about the trivia the commissioner’s subject themselves to, they spend more time writing down meaningless numbers than they ever have on the Tokeland Project. I asked them to get into the 21^st Century, and drag Doug Miller with them. Adopt a Consent Agenda as a method of operation, so they can devote more time to the people’s input. Commissioner Thompson looked as if I had slapped her. I tried to suggest a proven management approach to objectively examine the Tokeland project. She kept jerking her head sideways, and I asked if she had a problem? She just kept jerking her head, but at a faster rate. That, for sure, was a foolish spectacle.

So now I say we have some new characterizations: Bobblehead Thompson and Doug Miller’s lap dog, Hatfield.

The question of booze being delivered to Doug Miller at the PUD was raised. Hatfield actually spoke again. He said he had ordered in the past all beer be removed from employee’s recreation room and destroyed, definitely not allowed. But when confronted with the allegation of Doug Miller accepting delivery of wine cases, well that was okay, because it was not open. That, of course, gained some laughs.

Ratepayers this is not funny! These two fools must be removed. 

Ron Craig

South Bend, Wash.