Letter: Iowans deserve better from Iowa Utilities Board

I completely agree with your March 18 editorial 'Pipeline deliberations should have been public.” Shame on the Iowa Utilities Board. A closed-door session that definitely disregarded the spirit, if not the letter of our open meetings laws and a quick, 7-minute meeting before they dashed out the door. We deserved better than that!

What an insulting, shocking and sad display. This decision and decision-making process only confirmed what many of us feared: From the very start, the fix was in and this closed door, backroom deal was done long before the board's 7-minute approval statements. It's no wonder public trust in civic institutions plummets and anger and outrage at unresponsive decision-makers rises to explosive levels when public servants plunder our natural resources and give away private property rights for corporate profits. And so it comes as no surprise that the pipeline company filed motions last week with the Iowa Utilities Board requesting 'expedited and confidential” treatment to immediately begin construction of the pipeline. Hmm, I think I know what they'll decide.

Tom Mohan

Cedar Rapids