Kansas City News Blog

By JUSTIN KENDALL

Ex-General Motors executive George Turner started his investigation of the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities today.

Yesterday, Unified Government Mayor Joe Reardon announced Turner's appointment as special master to investigate the BPU's business practices. Turner's 60-day "fact-finding mission" comes in addition to the Unified Government's legislative auditor reviewing the BPU's procurement and payment processes and an internal investigation of the utility being conducted by Clarence M. Kelley & Associates, Inc.

The announcement of Turner's appointment was the latest fallout from the indictments of a high-ranking BPU official and a consultant for allegedly stealing $400,000 from the utility. However, Turner's focus won't veer toward the criminal investigation. Reardon said Turner's job will be to "ensure the utility is operated effectively, efficiently and in the best interest of the ratepayers in the community."

"Collectively, I believe the governing body of the Unified Government will be taking a more aggressive approach in protecting this valuable community asset for our citizens," Reardon said, reading from prepared remarks. "And today is clearly a step in the right direction."

Turner will work daily out of the BPU offices on Minnesota Avenue. The findings of Turner and the legislative auditor will become public in January 2009. Turner may also give periodic reports and suggestions. However, Turner said he doesn't anticipate taking testimony from employees. "I am anticipating sitting down and working with the various managers and people associated with the BPU and looking at their practices," Turner said.

Reardon said he fully expects the BPU to cooperate with Turner's investigation. BPU leaders say they welcome Turner's scrutiny.

In prepared remarks, BPU Board President Loretta Colombel said the board sees Turner's investigation as another shot at showing the BPU's troubles are a thing of the past. BPU General Manager Don Gray echoed Colombel's sentiments following the press conference.

Colombel noted that the utility was already undergoing "internal performance audits," but didn't name Clarence M. Kelley & Associates. "The results so far are positive," Colombel said. "We are making and considering many improvements, including new internal practices regarding invoice and business expense processing."

Colombel said she was unaware of the scope of the Clarence M. Kelley investigation, deferring to the utility's independent counsel, Carl Gallagher, who hired Clarence M. Kelley & Associates to conduct the internal investigation of the utility. Gallagher was out of the office Tuesday and had yet to return a call from The Pitch.