Council Could Go To Court To Get ROC Documents

The committee tasked with investigating the closure of the Regional Operations Center, also known as the ROC, is asking the full City County Council to take the city to court to produce documents it says are needed to move forward.

Members voted 6-3 in favor of doing so, Monday.

Council Attorney Fred Biesecker wants Mayor Greg Ballard’s administration to provide a series of documents, including emails from former Department of Public Safety Director Frank Straub and between ROC developer Alex Carroll and the city.

Over five months, he’s received some of the materials, but claims there are "significant gaps."

Committee Chair Joe Simpson says the information is essential to the investigation.

"Until we get these documents, we don't know what we are going to find," he said.  "We can't make any accusations about anything.  That's why we need to get it.  So does (the media) and the taxpayers."

There are about 22 outstanding items. Biesecker says the city hasn’t been able to locate some and simply doesn’t have others.

Councilor Mariyln Pfisterer thinks taking the matter to court is premature.

"Documents are still forthcoming. To my mind, avoiding the cost of a court case and still receiving the documents that are still forthcoming makes a whole lot more sense," she said. 

The ROC closed last year after the Department of Public Safety found the working conditions were unsafe and employees were relocated.

The committee formed to look into the 25-year, $18 million contract for the east side facility that opened just before the city hosted the Super Bowl in 2012.

Members are looking at why the Department of Public Safety entered into a long-term lease and whether or not the information provided to the council was complete and accurate, among other issues.

Former Emergency Management Director Jim White testified in front of the committee, Monday.  He was involved in the process of picking a location, but recommended the city house the center at the airport because it was cheaper and in better condition than the ROC.

"I was surprised that it hadn't been condemned. I thought the building was certainly in need of extensive renovation. The roof leaked. There was an ungodly amount of trash in the building. Walls weren't connected. There was just a lot of negative," he said.  "I thought I was back in Baghdad in some of the bombed out buildings we had been in."

White was fired before a final location was chosen, but says he is frustrated with how it turned out.

"As a taxpayer, I'm not happy about it," he said.  "It appears to me that my tax dollars are being spent, I don't want to say recklessly, but in an inappropriate manner."

The city pays $57,000 a month for the ROC.

If the council passes the resolution, the matter can go to the Marion Circuit Court.