Monroe pays $157,000 to settle open records case

The city of Monroe has paid more than $157,000 to settle an open records lawsuit with an activist who had asked for e-mails between city council members and the city's lawyer in 2005.

The Daily Herald of Everett reports the city paid the money last week to Meredith Mechling, who was trying to determine whether council members had conducted a debate by e-mail rather than in public session.

The city turned over some of the dozens of documents she requested but redacted certain information, including personal e-mail addresses of council members, and withheld other documents in their entirety under a claim of attorney-client privilege.

Mechling sued for the information in 2006, and last year the state court of appeals sided with her unanimously.

"If we don't hold our government accountable, things will never change," Mechling said.

The settlement is $35,000 less than a settlement offer Mechling offered a year ago. It covers the nearly $115,000 she spent on legal fees, plus damages.

The money came from Monroe's revenue stabilization fund, which is earmarked for financial emergencies.

Mayor Robert Zimmerman said the city has improved its public information efforts and now has two employees who deal with such requests. They've received more training, city administrator Gene Brazel said.

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Information from: The Daily Herald, http://www.heraldnet.com