SIOUX CITY, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — Woodbury County Supervisor Matthew Ung has shared input on how he thinks the county should move forward with selecting representatives for the upcoming legal mediation.
Earlier this week, Law Enforcement Center (LEC) Authority Member Ron Wieck was appointed to serve as the authority’s representative in that process. This comes as the county is involved in pending litigation with the general contractor behind the new county jail.
Another authority member, Mark Nelson, shared concern with that decision to appoint Wieck. Nelson expressed that he wanted to fill that role because he’s the only option who was directly elected by voters.
On Wednesday night, Ung issued an open letter. He suggested the county should replace Nelson on the LEC Authority with County Supervisor Dave Dietrich and then appoint Nelson to represent the county during mediation.
Part of the letter can be read below:
Some citizens need to hear it repeated that we aren’t going to directly cause further delays
by following their advice. One company involved has replaced one of their critical positions
several times—I believe FIVE TIMES—and that has delayed the project more, not less.
Firing the Baker Group on the eve of mediation would be the stupidest thing possible for
any meaningful resolution. Any taxpayer giving that five seconds of thought would realize
that publicly castigating the owner’s representative going into mediation will diminish
THEIR OWN AUTHORITY to claim—through their elected officials—that they are owed
damages. The parties clearly at fault for the errors regarding design and construction have apparently agreed to engage in mediation, which is a positive step—and a credit to our respective legal counsels, even as they absorb character attacks. Counting up our respective legal counsels, including one assistant for each, and including the county attorney and assistant county attorney, we have six attorneys who have ensured we are as ready as we will ever be for mediation.In part, letter by Matthew Ung
He added, after the mediation process is complete, Nelson could potentially be re-appointed to the authority. The mediation process is expected to begin by the end of the year.