Clean Water Services CEO Resigns 4 Hours After The Herald Demands It – But This Isn’t Over For Her Or Commissioners

“Rats are known to be the first thing off a burning ship.  One leaves first, then the others get nervous.  Tails curl up, noses wiggle, and eyes pop open wide.  Moments later, it is a free-for-all, and no one gets off the boat before the rats do—especially the sewer rats.  When the jig is up, they don’t just jump ship – they blast off in a goddamn solid gold rocket, leaving the rest of us knee-deep in the goddamn muck!”

This week, a local friend with a nautical background and a grasp on government agencies shared this knowledge with me.

At Noon today, I threw down the gauntlet and demanded, for the second time, Diane Taniguchi-Dennis’s firing as CEO of #CleanWaterServices if she did not resign. I also called for all #WashingtonCountyCommissioners to fully disclose the trips they have been on, benefits they have accepted and taken, Lavish meals and rooms they have paid for, and every single financial benefit they have received from Clean Water Services. They are the Board of Directors; they are responsible.

They must now disclose their involvements and the “goodies” they received or be removed from their offices. Here is the story I wrote and posted today:

Storm Clouds Darken Over Clean Water Services As Scandal Spread To More Executives

Within two hours of press, I received a call from inside CWS, at least that is what the caller said.  She said the Executives were spiraling after the story broke, and that members of the County Commission were also in “full panic mode.  She thanked me and said something was happening.

Two hours later, just four Hours after I published, I was personally sent an email announcing that Diane had resigned. The fires were burning from our story on April 12th. See below. Today, I put gas on the fire, notified the State, and it finished the job.

Clean Water Services CEO Must Step Down & County Commissioners Must Fully Disclose To Regain Ratepayer Trust

IT ISN’T OVER – NOT EVEN CLOSE

The resignation today was overdue and had to happen. Specifically, Diane left because she had no choice.  By leaving now, with a bullsit glowing praise press release from her staff, she is probably hoping to sail off into the sunset on a PERS Golden Package.  I say not so fast.

CEO Taniguchi-Dennis is already the subject of numerous Ethics complaints with the State of Oregon. An outside audit could find severe violations and financial wrongdoing—COULD being the operative word. So this isn’t over; this is just starting! Goodbye, Diane, you were nothing short of a destructive force at a previously well-liked utility agency. 

NEXT UP: Time For The County Commissioners (as Commissioners and CWS Board Members) to respond to the public

Today, I called for the Oregon Attorney General and the Governor to get involved.

Today, I challenged and demanded in an Open Letter format that all of the Washington County Commissioners immediately out themselves and provide the following now, rather than under a court order or subpoena:

Here is that open letter:

TO:      All Washington County Commissioners

From:  Dirk Knudsen, Editor – Hillsboro Herald -Rate Payer, CWS – 5 accounts in total

RE:       Disclosing Your Involvement With CWS

Dear Commissioners,

I ask that you all immediately make a written list and provide full public disclosure of:

• You or your family/associates’ involvement of any kind with CWS staff, consultants, family, or friends of both, in which you;
  • Travelled to any event, meeting, or gathering/junket regardless of business or pleasure.
  • Received any amount of financial benefit in any form
  • Ate any meal or any kind that you did not pay for
  • Participated in anything in which Clean Water Services or Clean Water Insurance Company covered any or all of your expenses.
  • The destination, date, and times of any of those mentioned above.
  • Any and all political contributions you or any PAC or political entity you are associated with have been received from Clean Water Services, Clean Water Insurance Company, and any executive, employee, or consultant affiliated with either of them.
  • Any salary or compensation you have received in any form, either public or private services and actions, from Clean Water Services AND Clean Water Insurance Company.

This is not hard. I do not know who among you can answer the questions above, or have ever been involved at a level where you could answer those questions.  But I do know some of you have- and need to.  I ask you to give me a 7-year look back, so please consider this request to include all timelines from January 2018 to the time you provided the information.  I am not suggesting you had no right to accept any benefits or compensation.  But I am suggesting some of you are not being forthcoming.  God forbid any of you might be obstructing the release of such information.

This same request has been sent to CWS as a formal Public Information Request.   I will seek disclosure of this form from both angles; you or they can answer.  You are in a position as individuals to do this immediately.  Therefore, I will expect a response to this public challenge ASAP.  Silence is not acceptable.

This is not a group request. You do not need to check with each other on this or take it up in one of your many private Executive Sessions on Clean Water Services litigation.

Thank you for your immediate consideration and attention to this matter. I can be reached at hillsboroherald@gmail.com, and my phone number is also listed on Google.

Looking forward to a transparent and fruitful exchange of information.

Sincerely,

Dirk Knudsen

 

So, the CEO’s attempt to depart from her $500K +—a year financial package is Step 1. The ratepayers, the people of Washington County, deserve all the answers. Every dime of money and wrongful use of funds derived from the CWS Legal Monopoly must be accounted for. Period.

Every Commissioner will disclose every dime, airplane ticket, poolside drink, and lobster meal they ate while riding the CWS gravy Train!  I will not rest until they do, and I need your help.

You are all subject to the Laws of Washington County and the State of Oregon. Suppose there is nothing to see, great.  But if there is, be ready to pay the price.

Last month, I burned the bridges calling for her resignation.  The result was some helpful whistleblowers, some good leads, and some nasty hang-up phone calls.

Today I burned the boats. I received nasty call #2 and some thankful calls too. I have nowhere to go- but through the other side. This means nothing, her resignation. We want all those private records from the Hawaiian Insurance company she oversaw to be set up. We want to know if she is still on that Board, receiving benefits while refusing to provide records. We want every single transactional penny checked and rechecked.  We want to know who else has been on this agency booze cruise of fun and games. We want it all and we want it now.  You caused this mess, and now you will answer.

The fires are burning; and now we are hearing from the great 98% at CWS. Welcome to the new world of honest, compelling journalism of the people, by the people, for the people. Will you please join me?

I am told there will be a coming to God meeting at CWS next Friday, and everyone will get to ask questions and speak their truth.  If I get more threatening calls, I will be there, but with some friends for protection- you know, hard-working citizens of Washington County.

WHISTLEBLOWERS WANTED: Thanks to the 10 brave souls who have risked their careers to talk with or contact the Herald.  Given no fair way to blow a whistle, we need you!  Things will change! HELP US!

Many of you at CWS know more than anyone and have nothing to do with this. I offer you total anonymity and protection if you want to talk, meet up, or email me anonymously. I can be reached on Facebook and Instagram at hillsboroherald@gmail.com or at 503-799-8383.

The CWS Legacy is proud, and the 98% have built a great organization. The 2% has failed us all. Please help us stop them, expose them, and remove them!

Your help helped get Diane out of the building.  Let’s turn this up to DefCon 4- Help Us!  I just burned all the boats, and the bridges are already in ashes

SIGN THE CHANGE.ORG Petition To Have The Attorney General Investigate This- we achieved the Resignation of the CEO within 4 hours.  We can do this!  https://www.change.org/p/demand-an-external-audit-of-clean-water-services-the-resignation-firing-of-the-ceo/dashboard

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