MADISON, WI DEVELOPMENT GROUP IN SECRET NEGOTIATIONS WITH WAL-MART?
Development corporation subject to open meetings [Associated Press via Chicago Tribune]
The state Supreme Court rules a Beaver Dam economic group is subject to Wisconsin’s open meetings and records laws.
The court said Friday an entity is a quasi-governmental body and subject to those laws if it closely resembles a government corporation, but that a determination should be made on a case-by-case basis.
A citizens group has alleged the Beaver Dam Area Development Corporation negotiated secretly with Wal-Mart to bring a $55 million distribution center to the city.
The Supreme Court says the corporation is funded exclusively by tax dollars, its office was located in the municipal building, it was listed on the city’s Web site and the city gave the group clerical support and office supplies.
The court declined to punish the group, however. Attorneys for the group didn’t immediately return messages.
Posted by Joel Nezianya on Friday, July 11, 2008
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