I read with interest Jim Steele's opinion piece in LakeCoNews ( Steele: Community power choice aggregation is here, Sunday, May 24: http://bit.ly/1RipHFL ) and agree particularly with these points.

First, as a matter of course, decisions of magnitude should never be fast-tracked and the public should be encouraged to be involved in the vetting, especially when the county hasn't the resources or expertise to do so.

Second, while the $2 million inducement sounds wonderful ($500,000/quarter), is it guaranteed and is it competitive with what is offered elsewhere?

Thirdly, to rely on a required analysis that is generated by the benefactor of the contract would be incredibly naive, if not criminal.

I'm all for this initiative and choice in power and source production, I don't know if we can do any better than what's offered, but chances are – neither do you.

In engaging a competitive market place the usual course of action would be to put out a request for proposals so that you have a competitive process (as required by law), otherwise it appears some backroom deal was struck and now we're just going through the formalities.

I'm not saying that's happened, ever. But it can have that appearance and appearances, as with smoke, often indicate something is amiss. The community's confidence in the board suffers and then too does the progress the board can make.

To deal with these important issues the board needs the full community's support. Please begin to rebuild our trust in our elective officials and this institution.

Tim Williams lives in Clearlake, Calif.