To the Editor, Daily Union:

Next Tuesday June 22, the Jefferson Development Corporation (JDC) meets with the Jefferson City Council and the Water and Electric Commission to present its annual summary of its accomplishments in the past year. The meeting will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Meadow Springs Country Club. I encourage the public to attend. What makes this meeting especially interesting is that JDC meetings are normally closed to the public.

The JDC oversees the city industrial park, such as attracting new factories and purchasing land to expand the park. It also has a general charter to foster economic development. Because of the presence of the City Council at next week's JDC meeting, it must be open to the public. Anyone can attend.

You might need to bring your dinner in a paper bag, though. According to the agenda, the JDC is buying dinner for at least the Council and utility members. The JDC has received all of its funding from the City. It now has more than $45,000 of taxpayer money in the bank, earmarked for no particular purpose. The JDC will be using these funds to pay for this dinner.

Last fall, former City Clerk Faith Elford tried to insure that the City was in full compliance with Wisconsin's open meetings law. This law is described in sections 19.81-19.98 of the Wisconsin Statutes. It begins "it is… the policy of this state that the public is entitled to the fullest and most complete information regarding the affairs of government." It means that the meetings of all governmental bodies, such as the JDC and City Council, must be open to the public and the press.

Because of Elford's request to open the JDC meetings, City Administrator Dave Schornack received an opinion from city attorney Scott Scheibel, who clearly stated his research into the law indicated that JDC meetings must be open to the public. Scheibel also wrote a second letter after he'd confirmed this opinion with the Wisconsin Attorney General's office. Both Schornack and JDC Executive Director Olsen received a copy, but JDC meetings are still closed to the public. The JDC believes it is a private corporation and all its activities must be conducted in secret. I have alerted the County District Attorney to this violation of state law. He is investigating and will render an opinion soon.

According to the JDC by-laws, anyone in the Jefferson area can be a member if you pay the dues - and there are no dues. Members need not be approved by its Board - just ask and you're a member, the by-laws seem to say. I asked to join the JDC, but was refused. Without a vote, they've decided to delay any action on my request until the District Attorney's investigation is complete.

Similarly, the meetings of the Commerce and Industry Association (CIA) have not been open to the public, another violation of state law. The CIA receives more than $43,000 a year to fund the full-time Executive Director position now held by Dave Olsen. This person in this position oversees the day-to-day operation of the JDC and the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. There is no adequate mechanism for the public to hear about the actions of the Executive Director.

Similarly, there is no suitable accountability mechanism for the Chamber's funding. Beyond the city-subsidized director, the Chamber also receives general operating funds from the City. Last year, they received $12,000. This year, it's $6,000.

I'm a Jefferson Chamber member and support its goals and purposes. However, even as a Chamber member, I cannot view any Chamber budget or expenditure records that might explain in detail how these taxpayer dollars are being used. The public is not allowed to attend Chamber meetings, either. Again, more closed records and closed meetings. I think this is unfair to the public, and I'll try to encourage a peaceful change in Chamber policy to make it more accountable for the public money it receives.

In general, I'd like to see more openness in Jefferson's city and city-funded organizations. Ultimately, the Council decides the terms by which Jefferson's governmental affairs will be conducted. The Council can decide for openness and public participation, obeying the letter and the spirit of Wisconsin's laws.

What can be done? The Council supplies all of the JDC's funding and the majority of the Chamber's funding. If the Council funds these organizations, it can require them to hold open meetings or make regular reports of their spending (even if they're private organizations), add an opportunity for public participation, and document their spending. Taxes are being spent. Justice demands that the public can read an account of how this is done. Your Council representative needs to hear your opinion on this issue.

Openness matters. We need to hear about every accomplishment of these groups as well as their failures and missed opportunities. We need the press there so we learn the details when we can't attend. We need the chance to speak, ask questions and help chart a course on economic development issues before a "done deal" decision is handed to the Council. Debates shouldn't be held behind closed doors.

Year after year, Council members run on campaigns of openness and accountability, but they aren't asking enough questions at the right moments. All of these groups need the active participation of well-informed citizens in order to insure the representation of their interests, and to insure good, clean open government. You can't argue that citizens aren't interested in these issues at the same time you prevent them from learning about them.

I encourage anyone interested in Jefferson's economic development to attend next Tuesday's meeting. I welcome any comments at 674-5200 days, or 674-3661 at night, or by e-mail at jfoust@gojefferson.com.

John Foust
235 South Main St.
Jefferson, WI 53549
(920) 674-5200