BexarMet stalled reporter on controversial water contract

By Jennifer Peebles | Thursday, November 20th, 2008

San Antonio’s troubled water utility intentionally “slow-boated” a newspaper reporter’s public records request for a contract fraught with conflicts of interest, the Express-News reported this morning citing the utility’s own internal e-mail communication.

Using e-mails obtained through the Texas Public Information Act, the Express-News found that BexarMet spokesman T.J. Connolly purposefully stalled Express-News reporter Josh Baugh’s request for the contract with WECo, a water wholesaler.

The e-mail correspondence between Connolly and others in BexarMet may show that some press members’ fears are founded — that public officials ask the state attorney general’s office for a ruling as a way to stall a public records request.

“We have 10 days, unless an AG opinion is sought,” BexarMet lawyer Trey Wilson wrote, as quoted by the Express-News. “This will buy us about 90 days.”

The newspaper says Connolly replied, “I want this slow-boated as best we can.” Connolly also wrote that Baugh “can go (expletive) himself.”