We've been here before with Kansas City, Kansas' Board of Public Utilities. KSHB reporter Ryan Kath is reporting that members of the utilities board have spent thousands of dollars on out-of-state travel expenses, meaning that Wyandotte County taxpayers have picked up the tab.
KSHB's Kath found that board members spent a total of $28,641.71 to attend public-utility-related conferences. But no board member spent more than Terry Eidson.
Eidson's travel expenses totaled $8,232 for five conferences, two of which took place in Topeka and Wichita. Here's some of what KSHB found among Eidson's expenses:
• A three-night stay at a Marriott in downtown Washington, D.C., at a rate of $365 per nightAs for the others' spending in 2010:• A $172.32 ride from a chauffeur service from the D.C. hotel to the
Baltimore airport. A hotel receptionist told KSHB that a cab ride
would cost about $80 and taking the Super Shuttle would cost about $40.
• All airplane tickets were booked by a travel agency owned by Eidson
and included a $25 "service fee."
KSHB Channel 41: Do you choose hotels based on proximity to the conference or price? One of your hotel stays in Washington, D.C., was $365 per night, which may seem pricey to your constituents?Eidson: On a combination of things, including availability, pricing and location from events. Pricing is always a consideration, but unfortunately, room availability prices in D.C. are extremely expensive, especially when Congress is in session.
KSHB: How do you choose transportation? One of your chauffeur trips from the D.C. hotel to the Baltimore airport was $172. How do you justify the extra expense?
Eidson: I flew into BWI airport because their flights are typically cheaper than flying directly into National airport. Regarding the trip you referred to, there were several of us traveling together, and we were on a tight schedule, so we utilized the services of a four-passenger sedan. Regardless, $172 for transportation is too much, and I'll certainly look for the cab ride you mentioned if I ever take this again. Saving that money could not hurt since we're always looking for ways to cut costs.
KSHB: You have purchased airplane tickets through your travel agency. The cost includes a $25 "service fee." On the surface, this could appear like a conflict of interest. What's your response?
Eidson: I would usually use my own travel agency to book travel because we get discounted prices. Unfortunately, it appears the processing fee was included into the travel you inquired about. This was an oversight, a mistake, and should not have occurred. Going forward, BPU staff will make reservations for any and all travel required by my position, just to err on the side of caution.
Some of the players may have changed, but the practices certainly haven't.
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grand jury 2011, between the acid minds at bpu and the no braines at the ug/ wyco Looks like a new and better year of more questions? grand jury questions... Go Tj...........
Looks like the same old BPU.Almost 1/2 million dollars mis appropriated ,prior credit card abuses by Daggett ,excessive travel expenses,etc.When will the ratepayers wake up?The board members make 1k a month for meeting ,at most,4 hrs a month.250 an hour is a good wage ,plus medical/dental ,travel,ect.These guys are rapacious.Where is the ethics board?Another joke!Bill Hutton ought to be ashamed to have his name connected to this bunch.Thanks Justin for your reporting,and channel 41.The Star and Wyandotte West dont
have time for this.Edison also does a a lot of advertising in that paper .Eidson is also a brkfst buddy with Turner/Lynch/Scherzer/Daggett and the late Marc Conklin.Shoud tell you somthing.
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