MEA needs to address fairness issues

January 6, 2006

Mary Kvalheim\Spectrum

I re-read our Matanuska Electric Association bylaws hoping to find some means of responding to Mr. Michael G. Pauley's editorial in the monthly Power Lines newsletter through that medium. I could find no such mechanism. Our local newspaper, then, is my only recourse.

The latest Power Lines included Mr. Pauley's editorial stating that the Frontiersman should apologize for an article in its Nov. 13 printing. It seems the MEA board failed to see that the words: &#8220Is MEA board racist?” ended with a question mark.

The board and Mr. Pauley should review Article III section 8(a) 3 of the bylaws, which states: &#8220The member-owners, by delegating authority to the Board of Directors, do not give the board the right to decide what is good for the members to know and what is not good for members to know.”

The Frontiersman article left it up to the reader to form his or her opinion. Some might have decided after reading the Frontiersman article that when a cat's tail gets caught under a rocking chair it will surely let you know. Other readers probably had different opinions. Yet all readers could see that the article dealt with fairness.

Was there a need for a board resolution? No. Were directors polled to see if they felt defamed? If so, would they be willing to stand before a jury and state exactly why and how this article defamed them?

Better yet, is the MEA board trying to hamper freedom of the press?

Maybe a resolution should be passed by the board that speaks to general fairness. Such a resolution could take into account that &#8220all directors are treated equitably,” and considers that a board president has not been bestowed with divine powers that speaks to who can or cannot be on certain committees, a resolution that speaks to allowing the board to direct instead of rubber-stamping whatever the administration decides.

We, as member-owners, have become lax in taking an interest in our utility. We must actively participate in our co-op. We must insist on accountability.

For example, can the non-payment of capital gains be blamed directly on the cost of fuel? If fuel costs continue to rise, will capital gains checks be delayed again?

How much does it cost to print Power Lines? Wouldn't it be easier to put information contained in this publication on the MEA Web site?

There are many questions that must be asked. We must insist that Power Lines include information about upcoming board elections. Members should be clearly informed about exact dates regarding these elections.

It is our co-op. Let's get involved.

Mary Kvalheim represents Wasilla on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly.