Report raises more questions in Collins' conflict of interest probe
Investigation raises more questions on desal project
Jim Johnson
Monterey Herald
06/27/2011
Last week's release of a preliminary report on Monterey County's investigation of former water board director Steve Collins' alleged conflict of interest in the regional seawater desalination project left many questions unanswered, as the report itself acknowledged.
"Our investigation is incomplete and many questions remain," said the report, submitted by San Leandro law firm Remcho, Johansen & Purcell LLP.
There's still no indication of who knew what about Collins' relationship with RMC Water and Environment, for whom he worked on behalf of the desal project while he also represented the county water resources agency, and exactly when they knew it. And, there's no sense of why no one apparently raised questions or concerns about his role until after Collins' second recusal, in February, from voting on a contract involving RMC.
It wasn't until two months later the supervisors launched their investigation.
Collins worked for RMC, which served as Marina Coast Water District's project manager, on behalf of the desal project for most of 2010 and was paid more than $160,000 by the firm. He also sought payment from the county for expenses related to his work on the project.
