COMMISSIONERS DIFFER OVER RELEASING INFO

 

"Let the sun shine in" or "protect legitimate trade secrets" were two distinct views offered by city commissioners Wednesday as they debated how much secrecy should surround the Highwood Generating Station.

The power plant developer, Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission, is a mix of five rural electric cooperatives plus the city of Great Falls.

City Manager Greg Doyon said that public-private mix has made him uncomfortable, especially since SME does not want certain information discussed at its meetings to be disseminated to the public.

City Commissioner Bill Bronson, who attended SME meetings last week in Billings with Doyon, said he thinks a lot of what is discussed at those meetings has already been talked about in public anyway.

Commissioner Mary Jolley argued anything discussed with city officials is public information.

"Release it," Jolley said. "A democracy is open." Jolley said she doubted SME really is trying to protect trade secrets.

But Doyon said SME could and probably would sue the city if it released all information regarding the project. He said SME sent him a letter telling him what he "couldn't tell people."

Commissioner and financial planner Bill Beecher argued the city should not release proprietary information unless it's information commissioners need to make a decision.

Bronson said some suppliers to the power project are strongly opposed to certain project details being released.

Commissioner John Rosenbaum said the simplest solution might be for the city to simply pull back from direct involvement in power-plant planning.