Jonathan,
Please find my response to your request for comment dated 4/18/17 at 6:11pm requesting a response by
4/19/17 at noon.
1. Why did you attend this conference?
The annual APPA legislative rally is an effective opportunity for public power entities, managers, and
commissions to:
● Directly discuss and influence legislation that affects our ratepayers with elected officials
● Continuing education on current and future issues our Utility and ratepayers will or may face
● Networking and informal idea exchange with industry professionals from across the nation
I personally attend this conference in an effort to do the best job I can as a member of the commission charged
with being informed on issues and making decisions (or being prepared to make decisions) that balance today
with tommorrow as well as the best interests of ratepayers and owner (City of Marshfield).
2. Have you attended this conference in years past, and if so, which years?
Yes, I have attended this event each of the last 5 years.
3. Why did your son join you on this trip?
Washington DC is a unique combination of American history and government. A place not everybody gets to
see in their lifetime. The opportunity to extend the Utility trip by going early into a vacation and to share that
experience with my son was both fun and educational. This trip was both vacation and “extended take-yourson-to-work-day”. My son saw real American government in action as he attended our meetings with
legislators, learned about current issues attending briefing sessions and group speakers, and had an
opportunity to see some of our Country’s history at the Smithsonian Museums.. Given that I could financially
afford it, his maturity was appropriate for it and he could stand the time away from school….why wouldn’t I take
him?
4. Why didn’t you personally pick up the meal expenses for your son?
I did pick up all the meal expenses for my son, except those group activities where the Utility policy covered
them as they would if a spouse attended. Additionally, I did not submit any expense reimbursement request for
this trip for incidentals of any kind that I may have been entitled to out of gratitude for the generosity of the
opportunity for my son to participate. These expenses included my expenses and those of other attendees I
may have paid for taxis, subway, or meals eaten away from the group.
5. The story will note that the trip cost MU ratepayers approximately $11,000, which covered the costs of
staying at a luxury hotel, eating at expensive restaurants and drinking alcohol. You are welcome to comment
about the propriety of the trip’s cost if you wish.
I think your characterization of “luxury hotel”, “expensive restaurant” and “drinking alcohol” could be interpreted
as a bias toward sensationalism in this case instead of a fair reporting of the facts. Washington DC is an
expensive destination and since almost every portion of the expense was done as part of either the APPA
group, the MEUW group, or the GLU group….your apparent bias is that the entire event was a junket. I
disagree; but don’t have the platform to control the pen as you do.
Mike Eberl