Published: April 04, 2008 02:49 pm            

OUR VIEW - April 2

Just the facts

To its credit, OMI reacted quickly to news that one of its workers had gone to the state Department of Environmental Protection last year with claims he had been ordered to dump raw sewage down a city storm drain.

The DEP probe proved "inconclusive," according to investigator Stewart F. Romack, due to the passage of time between the alleged violation and notification of the agency. Nonetheless, OMI project manager Todd Hunt, who doubles as Live Oak's public works director, called for an immediate internal investigation.

At last Thursday's council meeting an OMI vice-president announced the results. The company, he said, had been cleared of any wrongdoing. However, he refused to share any of the report's substantive findings either with city officials or the press. We'd like to know why.

OMI is a private firm that performs an important public function. We believe residents of Live Oak - city officials included - should be able to see for themselves what, if anything, the inquiry turned up.

        

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