Two residents are suing a doubled over the past six Glendale irrigation company years. The district covers for public records, including roughly 640 properties, he maintenance invoices and e- said. mails in an attempt to find The former restaurateur said out why their rates have the summer bill to irrigate skyrocketed. his 2-acre site is about $170 Glendale residents Randy a month. Videen and Von Jones filed The district's monthly fee suit Monday in Maricopa per acre, per hour charge was County Superior Court against $36.95 in 2003. In 2009, the Sunburst Farms Irrigation cost jumped to $72.19, Videen District, stating it violated said. the Arizona Public Records Documents the residents Law. The district delivers requested include district irrigation water to 828 acres irrigation schedule changes; between 51st and 39 avenues district communications with and from Paradise Lane to other public agencies; IRS Acoma Drive. 1096 forms filed by the The district's attorney, district; invoices, work Robert Lynch, said he has no orders, and estimates for comment until he has reviewed maintenance work authorized the 19-page complaint. by the district; the "There is no way I will be district's legal bills; and able to get to this until the accounting records that weekend," Lynch said. document amounts paid for the Lynch declined to address the district's transportation issue, even though it has repairs. been ongoing for more than a Sunburst Farms flatly denied year. or ignored each request, a The Arizona Ombudsman in a violation of Arizona's public December report found the records law, said attorney district inappropriately Anthony Tsontakis, who denied access to records and represents Videen and Jones. was not prompt to respond, in "There's a general lack of one instance taking three transparency on the part of months to comply with a the board," Tsontakis said. request. "They're not transparent in The independent state agency, their operations, and we which assists with public aren't sure where the money records concerns, is going and how it's spent." substantiated all nine Videen said he has stopped allegations by Videen against attending the district the district and issued six meetings because an recommendations. The injunction against harassment ombudsman recommended the by the district's office district provide the manager was filed and upheld requested documents and that against him. district staff and governing But he's not giving up on the board members attend public public records. records law training if they "From a legal perspective have not done so in the past there is no good reason for year. denial, and that is why we Videen said he has been filed the lawsuit," he said. battling the district for "The public has the right to access to records to find out know." why the water rates have
Tags: company, Glendale, irrigation, over, Rates, Rise
