Road-construction project contract causes public outcry

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

A proposed contract with Kellogg Brown & Root for a Hays County road-construction project provoked criticism from active military personnel, veterans, local taxpayers and Texas State students.

The opposition stems from charges brought against the firm for unethical and fraudulent practices performed during their contract with the U.S. government in Iraq. County Judge Elizabeth Sumter said as a result, it is likely negations with KBR will be “pulled off the table” at the county court meeting Tuesday.

“I’m certain the public outcry would have something to do with that,” Sumter said of recent testimony from Hays County residents against KBR. “It’s pretty powerful when your own constituents walk in the door.”

Greg Foster, history senior, a veteran of the U.S. Army who was deployed to Iraq in 2004, is one of the Texas State students protesting the contract. He voiced his opposition to the county court about using tax dollars to do business with KBR, which has been a leading contractor in Iraq.

“Pretty much every step along the way from what my research has told me is that they (KBR) have defrauded the government out of thousands of dollars,” Foster said. “They have provided substandard services, and they have just kind of played on this idea of patriotism, when in reality, they are nothing more than profiteers in this whole thing.”

KBR is a former subsidiary of Halliburton, and has been accused of bribery, fraud and putting soldiers’ lives in jeopardy with their work, including installing faulty wiring in showers that reportedly electrocuted troops, according to The Washington Post.

According to commissioners court records, Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe recommended KBR to design and engineer work on Farm-to-Market Road 110 in Hays County for $617,929.

Ingalsbe is at a conference this week, and could not be reached for comment.

Laureen Chernow, Hays County communications specialist, said the issue is still up in the air.

“A lot of public criticism about KBR and some additional information that came to the county regarding their capabilities to properly complete some of their contracts in other areas,” Chernow said. “Apparently, the court is considering reopening the issue at the commissioner’s meeting April 7 and discussing whether or not those discussions with KBR should continue.”

Foster said he heard dealings with KBR could be axed, but he plans to be among protestors at the County Court meeting Tuesday.

“I think it’s kind of our responsibility, to not believe a rumor that the contract is dead, but to be actively working against it until we know that it’s dead,” he said.

Chernow said the Commissioners Court meetings welcome public comments and concern.

“This is part of the public governing process, and that’s what the Commissioner Court is all about,” she said.

KBR is contracted by the City of San Marcos for work on the Wonder World Drive extension project scheduled for completion in 2010.

“That project started several years ago, so at the time we did not have the same issues that the county is experiencing right now,” said Laurie Moyer, assistant city manager of San Marcos.

Moyer said KBR has been involved in the design and engineering of several TxDOT projects that involve working with sensitive environmental and archaeological conditions.

“They have been a very good firm to work with,” Moyer said. “We as a municipal agency have a process where we select firms and they have to submit a proposal, and we look very closely at their experience and the types of projects they have done.”

Foster said he hopes the concern expressed by he and others will catch on in San Marcos.

“I’d like to see that the city never signs another contract with them,” Foster said. “This is how we hold corporations accountable for unethical behavior — by not giving them any more money.”