BCDA sunset review begins
Since February the Bear Creek Development Authority and its board of directors has been under the scrutiny of the public and local official. Now the board is coming under the reviewing eye of the Sunset Committee.
In May Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow addressed a letter to Rep. Howard Sanderford, chairman of the Sunset Committee. His letter expressed his concerns about the future of the BCDA and its board of directors. He cited the Feb. 9 meeting that originally stirred the controversy, in which Connie Morrison was elected chairperson of the board of directors, and he cited the letter from John Treadwell that stated that the manner of voting, notice of meeting and notice of the purpose of meeting were potential challenges that could be made against the board’s actions.
According to Sanderford’s response letter at the end of June, the Sunset Committee has voted to make the “motion to direct the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts to conduct a sunset review on the Bear Creek Development Authority and present its findings to the Sunset Committee during the 2019 interim sunset review process.”
As to Morrison’s thoughts on the review, she said “it is what it is.”
“They are doing it in a very well-orchestrated manner. We’ll present our side of the story and see how it goes,” Morrison said.
A review from the Sunset Committee will include an “in-depth review of the activities of the board, including the board of directors, and an evaluation by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts regarding finances and compliance with certain legal requirements,” according to Treadwell.