City Can't Say How Much Makeover Cost

If a contractor works on your home, it's relatively easy to learn how much was spent on each item involved in the improvement project — whether it’s a new kitchen sink, a fireplace mantle, electrical wiring or light fixtures.

But if taxpayers want to know how much of their money Cincinnati Police Chief Thomas Streicher Jr. spent to renovate his office and personal bathroom at police headquarters, they apparently are asking too much of the city's record-keepers.

CityBeat filed a public records request Dec. 11 seeking documents detailing how much of the $3.3 million spent to renovate and update the District One police building went toward the chief’s new office and bathroom. Streicher’s office was relocated as part of the renovations — which angered Cincinnati City Council because much of the work wasn’t budgeted, and the police department used personnel funds intended for other purposes to do part of the project.

Several City Hall workers, including police personnel who’ve been in the chief’s new office, have grumbled about the expense. Describing the work as unnecessary and excessive, they’ve said the chief’s office contains ample use of marble tile and mahogany wood paneling. Worse, they allege that Streicher was unhappy with the original work done on his office’s bathroom and demanded it be redone, adding to the cost.

This is the same chief, of course, who told city council he was concerned about possible municipal budget deficits as justification for not using all of the overtime money that lawmakers had allocated for police walking patrols.

Hoping to separate fact from fiction, CityBeat filed its records request to learn how much was spent and on what items specifically. The newspaper sent a list of questions to the city’s budget director, who referred the request to the city's spokeswoman, who in turn referred it to the police department, who in turn referred it to the city’s facility management division.

CityBeat was informed Jan. 4 that the information was available for pickup at City Hall. The one-page reply written by staffer Joel Koopman states $3,298,762.71 was spent on District One renovations. Of that amount, $1.5 million went for general construction, $1.1 million for mechanical work, $582,000 for electrical work and about $97,000 for plumbing.

Replying to a question on how much was spent on Streicher’s personal bathroom, Koopman wrote, “This item was not separated in any bid or other means by the contractor and its cost is included as part of the whole renovation. We cannot provide the requested information accurately.”

Say what?

As most homeowners know, contractors typically either pay for the items themselves as a project progresses and then submit itemized bills for reimbursement or ask for the money upfront. They usually do so in case they have to justify their charges later.

This type of common procedure, however, appears not to be used by the city of Cincinnati.

Now is a good time to mention a letter that CityBeat received in May 2007 from the police department’s finance management section. It sought $54.35 from the newspaper for unspecified records requests that were nearly two years old or older. The letter said, “It was discovered that invoices have not been generated since 2005 due to technical difficulties. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

The alleged records requests predate this writer’s time at CityBeat, and the newspaper’s accounting manager sought specific data from the city to justify the bill. Although the department told CityBeat the bill was for document requests from December 2004 and August 2005, it could provide no further information including what records were received.

Like clockwork, Cincinnati officials routinely make annual claims of a “budget crisis” every November. These claims that have included warnings about possibly closing swimming pools and health clinics, as well as not providing officers to conduct walking patrols in neighborhoods that request them.

If residents are to take such warnings seriously, then City Hall needs to get its financial house in order and provide the type of data that are legally classified as public records.

— Kevin Osborne

Comments

[Lisa]

you rock, kev...

[CincyCapell]

Strike-Her must go. He's corrupt, insubordinate and completely ineffective as Police Chief. His tenure has been a disaster for the City.

[Political Junkie]

This is ridiculous. Why does City Council put up with this crap from Streicher? Not only is it bad for the city, it makes Council look weak and ineffective.