EDITOR:

Senator Ed McBroom, who usually avoids local politics, was critical of the Delta Conservation District this week for “playing political games” as he defends former District CEO Rory Mattson against allegations raised by the Michigan Attorney General’s office.

The astute would recognize that the response from the AG’s office to the Conservation District last week had nothing to do with the request the District made to the AG for legal services back in October 2023.

The astute would review the meeting minutes or watch District Board meetings to learn exactly what was requested from the AG’s office; issues related to public records destruction, financial irregularities, and development of employee contracts (see District meeting minutes/video from October 2023; item G new business available on the District’s website www.deltacd.org).

The astute would also realize the AG’s letter to the District, that cite court cases where Mr. Mattson acted as a private consultant, was not part of the request that was made to the AG’s office.

Senator McBroom’s examples of government overreach have nothing to do with the business of the Delta Conservation District. I understand the Senator’s frustration, as a member of the legislative branch of government, towards the actions of the executive branch of government (of which all Conservation Districts are organized by statue), and while these concerns may be valid blaming a local Conservation District for them is not, especially when his normal policy is to avoid getting involved in local politics.

Government fails when it’s corrupt. That’s a non-partisan issue and that’s precisely the concerns the current Conservation District is addressing with the AG’s office, MDARD, Delta County, and law enforcement.

As Senator McBroom praises past District employees and Board members please keep in mind that issues current board must now address are due to questionable past actions and practices. For example, Mr. Mattson’s contract prior to his retirement in 2023 was modified four times before his new board was elected in June. This contract entitled him to a cash payout of salary and benefits totaling $254,000. That likely makes Mr. Mattson the highest paid employee associated with state government. According to Mattson, the District still owes him approximately $130,000 – a $50,000 bonus and $80,000 in accrued vacation time (despite a District’s personnel policy that only allows 160 hours of accrued time). It’s likely the Conservation District will now have to spend taxpayers’ dollars to defend claims in court brought against the District by this past employee. How is this serving the people of Delta County?

There will be no satisfying outcome to these matters, only the promise that the current Conservation Board will do what it was elected to do – stay the course of promoting accountability and transparency.

I believe this approach is lockstep with the Senator’s own goals of government transparency and accountability while he pursues his own efforts to reform and expand FOIA in Michigan and finishes his last term as one of Michigan’s most respected Representatives.

Joe Kaplan

Gladstone