Flower Mound Leader:
AG rules Upper Trinity must release documents
By RICK MANN
(Created: Friday, April 28, 2006 7:05 PM CDT)

The Texas State Attorney General’s office ruled on April 17 that the Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) must release documents and information to board members that the organization had previously refused to make public, according to a press statement from the town of Flower Mound.

According to Flower Mound officials, the ruling was issued in response to a request for information submitted to the water district by UTRWD Board Member Chris Torley for a master plan report, pipeline plans, and technical specifications. Water district officials refused to comply with this request, according to Flower Mound officials.

The attorney general ruled that Torley has “an inherent right to the requested information when acting in his official capacity.” A previous attorney general ruling referenced in the case noted that it “would be ludicrous to conclude that a member of a board which ‘maintains’ information cannot obtain that information.”

“The ruling is in line with the UTRWD’s own bylaws, which state that the water district must release information to board members. In closing, the attorney general’s office noted that the ruling triggers important deadlines and there is an expectation of the UTRWD to either release the documents or file a lawsuit,” said Michael Ryan, spokesperson for the town of Flower Mound.

Attempts Friday evening to reach officials with the Upper Trinity Regional Water District were unsuccessful.