EDITORIAL: The right look for St. Joseph County leaders to avoid appearance of conflict

South Bend Tribune (IN)

Sept. 03--Sometimes, it just doesn't look right.

Two recent issues in St. Joseph County -- leaf pickup and health insurance -- have touched off debates that had some county officials publicly questioning each others' motives.

In the case of leaf pickup, the county's problems stem from a poorly negotiated contract with Greenworld Environmental Management, with officials now searching for ways to press for better service.

County Auditor Mike Hamann, a Democrat, has stepped into the middle of the fray.

He organized two public meetings in which Greenworld owner Chris Rose explained the challenges he faces.

Then, last month, Hamann touched off a controversy when he authorized a $200,000 payment to Greenworld in the final year of its contract. County commissioners say they had asked Hamann to withhold the payment to use as leverage against Greenworld. Hamann says he doesn't recall the conversation and that he first cleared the payment with county attorneys.

It's worth noting that in 2014, Greenworld donated $2,000 to Hamann's campaign -- 20 percent of the total he raised that year. There's also this: Hamann acknowledges that Rose is a "friend I've known for 30 years."

Hamann insists that he has remained objective. But there have been too many complaints, and there's too much money at stake, for taxpayers to be comfortable with his proximity to the situation.

It just doesn't look right when he authorizes, and defends, a $200,000 payment to a friend when other officials wanted it withheld. Going forward, Hamann should stay out of the debate and recuse himself from any decisions, especially financial ones, involving Greenworld. Otherwise, he exposes himself to more questions and doubts.

Speaking of questions, there is no shortage of them in the county's debate about its health insurance broker, R&R Benefits. A recent study authorized by the county ranked three firms higher than R&R. The potential cost savings were substantial.

Yet the county commissioners -- Andy Kostielney and Deb Fleming, both Republicans, and Dave Thomas, a Democrat -- stunned their colleagues in county government when they shut down the debate and chose to stick with R&R.

Some of those colleagues pointed out that a former county commissioner, Bob Kovach, who served for four years with Kostielney, now works for R&R. Kostielney and Kovach both say they had no conversations about the decision to retain R&R.

The commissioners' decision, however, still raises a slew of questions, especially why they appeared to stubbornly stick with R&R. It just doesn't look right when the potential to save money is overshadowed by turf wars among county officials and questions about how transparent and sincere the process was.

We understand that public officials have relationships and contacts that often intersect with their private lives. It can be a tricky balancing act.

All the more reason to be clear on a critical point: Public officials, including those in St. Joseph County, have an obligation to be fully transparent and to avoid the appearance of conflicts. That's always a good look.

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