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Public commenter demands records, alleges changes to BOT project; county attorneys guidance cited
Summary
At a Washington County commissioners meeting, resident Lucy Brent said she filed written records requests and alleged undisclosed changes to a BOT project approved in January 2023; she asked commissioners to pledge truthfulness and cited county attorney April Geltmakers written guidance on legal limits to prosecuting lies by public officials.
A Washington County resident publicly pressed commissioners for documents and answers on alleged changes to a previously approved build-operate-transfer (BOT) project, and she questioned whether commissioners would commit to telling the truth to the public.
Lucy Brent told the board she had submitted formal written records requests to the county auditor and said the requests would be posted on her Facebook page so others could view them. "We have a real problem here," Brent said, and she asserted there were "anomalies" and "changes" to the BOT project approved around January 2023 that she wants reviewed through the records process.
Brent said she emailed county attorney April Geltmaker and quoted Geltmakers February 10 response: public officials are expected to speak truthfully, but Indiana law does not automatically criminalize every instance where a public official lies; whether a lie is unlawful "depends on context, intent, and consequences." Brent asked commissioners, by name in her remarks, to affirm they would "always tell the truth to the public."
An unidentified speaker responded, "I said to my knowledge," when asked about prior truthfulness. Another unidentified speaker thanked Brent for her remarks.
Brent also said she had been appointed to the plan commission and referenced change orders and design differences she believes warrant review; she said she requested original RFIs and other documents to verify whether project specifications were followed. She urged officials to cooperate with investigators and suggested that those who "turn state's evidence first will probably be treated most favorably."
No formal action was taken during the public comment on Brents request; commissioners did not announce any new investigative steps at the meeting. Brents remarks and the records requests she described are on the public record, she said, and she directed people to her planned online posting of the documents.
The meeting continued with routine business after public comment.
