Move at odds with policy

EPHRATA — The Grant County Public Utility District commission agreed to hand over information about the utility's customers to the city of Ephrata, which is planning a survey.

Information gathered from the survey, completed with assistance from the University of Idaho, is to be used by the city for planning future recreation projects.

Ephrata Mayor Chris Jacobson said survey responses help plan future projects, maintenance spending and budgeting. It also assists recreation program development, the mayor said.

Ephrata Recreation Director Ray Towry appeared before the commission last week, to push for disclosure of the information for the city's upcoming "Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan Survey."

Prior to voting, Commissioners Bob Bernd and Terry Brewer both spoke in favor of providing the requested information.

Commission President Randy Allred said he'd like to see the PUD error on the side of nondisclosure.

PUD Attorney Ray Foianini advised the commissioners get the city and university to first sign nondisclosure agreements.

The commissioners then voted to immediately turn over the service addresses requested by Towry.

City officials are to compare water-meter listings of each Ephrata resident to the service addresses provided by the PUD, creating a more accurate sample pool for their survey, Towry said.

PUD customer names and any post office box information are not going to be provided.

According to the PUD's own customer service policy manual on the utility's Web site, addressing disclosure of customer information, the commissioners' decision violates their own policy.

"The following types of records are exempt from inspection and copying among others specified in (state law)," the manual states. "The residential addresses and residential telephone numbers of district customers contained in district records or lists, except in connection with child support matters as specified in (state law)."

Sarah Morford, PUD spokeswoman, said the information is not yet released. The city and university must first sign the nondisclosure agreements recommended by Foianini.

Morford expects the information to be provided Thursday, following tonight's Ephrata City Council meeting.