Judge Rules City Can't Keep Ties With Utility Secret

The city of Great Falls, Montana, wants to partner with Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative to build a coal-fired power plant. But the city was telling local citizens they are not allowed to see documents revealing contracts, financial agreements, and feasibility studies related to the plant.

But State District Judge E. Wayne Phillips ruled June 12, 2008, that the city could not keep the documents secret.

• "Judge Says City Must Reveal Documents in SME Relationship," Great Falls Tribune, July 18, 2008, by Richard Ecke.