A group led by former Federal Emergency Management Agency director Michael Brown has dropped its attempt to force Boulder County to rebid its contract for removal of debris caused by the Marshall fire.
Demanding Integrity in Public Spending — or DIGS — filed a lawsuit in Boulder District Court in February claiming county officials violated open meetings law when they decided to hire DRC Emergency Services LLC to clean up debris left by the Dec. 30 Marshall fire. The blaze led to one confirmed death and destroyed at least 1,000 structures in Louisville and Superior.
DIGS, in this week’s court filing, said it will no longer seek a court order directing the county to rebid the cleanup contract, declaring “this sideshow must end.”
Lawyers for DIGS still blasted the county for creating media sensationalism and a “false storyline that (DIGS) is causing and will continue to cause cleanup delay.”
DIGS’ lawyers also claim the county’s violation of the state’s open meetings law “are straightforward and indefensible,” in the court filing.
A hearing on the request for an injunction against the county was set for Friday.
The county has claimed it was well within its rights to hire DRC Emergency Services and did not violate open meetings law. The commissioners unanimously approved hiring DRC based on a recommendation from a multijurisdictional team composed of staff from Boulder County, the city of Louisville, and the town of Superior, according to February county news release.
The county, in a Wednesday news release, states DIGS now seeks to collect dispositions of the county commissioners and members of the Evaluation Committee that recommended the hiring of DRC Emergency Services.
The county will also move ahead and sign the private debris removal contract with DRC as early as March 22, the news release states.
“Nonetheless, the county believes the lawsuit remains a distraction from important recovery work for the community, especially depositions of staff who should be focused on planning and implementing (cleanup work),” the news release states.
Brown — the head of DIGS — led FEMA under President George W. Bush and met controversy for his handling of the response to Hurricane Katrina. He is also a radio talk-show host in Denver.
