TAXPAYER
TAXPAYER DOLLARS. CHRIS INGALLS IS HERE NOW WITH
THE NEW INVESTIGATION, MONEY
DOWN THE DRAIN.
>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT,
MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN BECAUSE
THIS IS INVOLVES TAXES AND A
LITTLE KNOWN PUBLICLY FUNDED
DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM. THIS LITTLE AGENCY IN SOUTH
KING COUNTY EXISTS IN THE BLACK
HOLE OF DEMOCRACY.
THE NATURAL SPLENDOR OF FARM
COUNTRY, IN ADDITION TO THE
RANCHES AND DAIRY FARMS HERE
FOR DECADES, RESIDENTS HAVE
NOTICED THE LARGE DRAINAGE
DITCHES THAT CUT THROUGH
PROPERTIES FOR MILES AND MILES.
IT IS PART OF A SPECIAL PURPOSE
DISTRICT LIKE A WATER, SEWER OR
FIRE DISTRICT.
FIRE DISTRICT. THIS IS CALLED KING COUNTY
DRAINAGE DISTRICT NUMBER 5.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF DRAINAGE
DISTRICT 5?
DISTRICT 5? >> I NEVER HAD.
>> Reporter: 30 YEAR RESIDENT,
MICHAEL HUGHES WAS MORE
SURPRISED TO LEARN THE DRAINAGE
DISTRICT IS MANAGED BY ELECTED
COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONERS. HAVE YOU SEEN DRAINAGE DISTRICT
COMMISSIONER ON YOUR ELECTION
BALLOT?
BALLOT?
BALLOT? >> NO SIR.
I DID NOT KNOW IT EXISTED.
>> Reporter: HERE IS THE
LONGEST SERVING DRAINAGE
DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, ALLAN
TONY THOMAS, HIS FAMILY IS ON
THE 150 ACRE THOMAS DAIRY FARM
50 YEARS.
50 YEARS.
50 YEARS. HI, MR. THOMAS.
I'M CHRIS INGALLS FROM THE KING
5 INVESTIGATORS.
5 INVESTIGATORS. HE IS ALSO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL
NO ONE CAN REMEMBER CASTING A
BALLOT FOR.
BALLOT FOR. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME VOTERS
VOTED FOR YOU?
>> WE HAVE NOT HAD ANYBODY RUN
FOR PROBABLY 30 YEARS.
>> Reporter: THOMAS SAID NOBODY
ELSE WANTS THE JOB.
ARE YOU NOT REQUIRED TO HOLD AN
ELECTION?
ELECTION?
ELECTION? >> IF NOBODY SIGNS UP FOR --
>> Reporter: THEY HAVE THE
MAINTENANCE OF THE DRAINAGE
SYSTEM THAT RUNS THROUGHOUT
RURAL KING COUNTY.
DISTRICT 5 INCLUDES 18 MILES OF
TRENCHES IN AND AROUND ENUMCLAW
THAT FUNNEL RUNOFF WATER NORTH
INTO THE CREEK AND OUT TO THE
GREEN RIVER.
GREEN RIVER. THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM PRESENTS
FLOODING IF MAINTAINED
PROPERLY.
PROPERLY.
PROPERLY. >> WE CONTROLLED THIS AREA
TRYING TO ALLEVIATE FLOODING.
>> THIS HOMEOWNER IS CONCERNED
THE FLOODING IN HIS
NEIGHBORHOOD COULD BE LINKED TO
THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT TRENCH
YARDS AWAY.
YARDS AWAY. IT ISN'T JUST THE 600 RESIDENTS
AND BUSINESSES IN DISTRICT 5
THAT WONDER IF THE SYSTEM WORKS.
>> WE ASKED STAFF AND FIELD
STAFF, DO YOU RECALL SEEING ANY
MAINTENANCE WORK DONE DURING
THIS PERIOD?
THIS PERIOD? NOBODY HAD RECOLLECTION.
>> Reporter: THIS IS THE KIND I
CITY ADMINISTERED, MANY OF THE
DISTRICTS TRENCHES ARE
OVERGROWN AND PLUG WITH
SEDIMENT AND SOIL.
HE IS CONCERNED THE LACK OF
DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE COST
FLOODED STREETS WITHIN CITY
LIMITS.
LIMITS.
LIMITS. THAT RAISES THE QUESTION, WHERE
IS ALL THE TAX MONEY COLLECTED
FOR THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT
MAINTENANCE GOING?
MAINTENANCE GOING? >> THERE'S A POSSIBILITY
IMPROPER USE OF PEOPLE'S MONEY.
>> Reporter: ARE YOU USING THE
TAXPAYERS MONEY ACCORDINGLY?
>> YES, IT HAS TO BE.
WE GO THROUGH THE STATE AUDITOR
AND EVERYTHING.
AND EVERYTHING. WE KEEP OUR BOOKS UP VERY TIGHT.
>> Reporter: THOMAS IS CORRECT,
THE STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE GAVE
DRAINAGE DISTRICT LIKE A CLEAN
BILL OF HEALTH AS RECENTLY AS
2016.
2016.
2016. A
2016. A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST TO THE
KING COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE
REVEALS THOMAS ASSESSES THE
DISTRICT PROPERTY OWNERS
BETWEEN $70,000-$80,000 A YEAR.
>> Reporter: YOUR DISTRICT
TAKES $70,000 A YEAR IN
ASSESSMENTS.
ASSESSMENTS. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT
MONEY?
MONEY?
MONEY? >>
MONEY? >> WELL, WE HAVE OVER PRETTY
CLOSE TO 18 MILES WORTH OF
DITCHES TO CLEAN UP.
>> Reporter: KING COUNTY?
THE TEXT FROM PROPERTY OWNERS
AND PAYS THE CONTRACTOR TO
CLEAN THE DITCHES WHEN
COMMISSIONER THOMAS SIGNS OFF
ON THE JOB.
PUBLIC RECORDS SHOW HIS
APPROVED CONTRACTOR IS AN
UNREGISTERED COMPANY CALLED A
CONSERVATION SERVICES.
CONSERVATION SERVICES. THE BUSINESS ADDRESS LISTED IS
THE HOME OF THOMAS'S MOTHER-IN-
LAW.
LAW.
LAW. IT
LAW. IT IS A COMPANY FOUNDED BY HIS
OWN SON.
OWN SON.
OWN SON. >> MY SON WAS A LEGITIMATE
CONTRACTOR AND BEFORE I DONE
IT, I CHECKED VERY CAREFULLY TO
MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS OKAY TO
DO BUSINESS LIKE THAT AND IT
WAS.
WAS.
WAS. >>
WAS. >> Reporter: FOR THOMAS TO
APPROVE PUBLIC PAYMENTS TO A
FAMILY MEMBER OF A DRAINAGE
SYSTEM IN DISREPAIR RAISES
QUESTIONS FOR SOME PEOPLE
PAYING THOSE TAXES.
>> I CAN SAY CORRUPT BUT IT
SOUNDS A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS TO
ME.
ME.
ME. >>
ME. >> THEY WERE DOING THE WORK --
>> Reporter: WE UNCOVERED THIS
VIDEO FROM A PUBLIC RECORDS
REQUEST.
REQUEST.
REQUEST. IT SHOWS THE CITY WAS SO
ALARMED WITH THE ARRANGEMENT OF
THOMAS, IT FILED A POLICE
COMPLAINT.
COMPLAINT. >> IT WAS NOT DONE BY YOUR
BUSINESS.
BUSINESS.
BUSINESS. >> Reporter: HERE A DETECTOR
DETECTIVE INTERVIEWS ALEX
THOMAS, HIS FATHER STARTED A
CONSERVATION SERVICES ON HIS
BEHALF 7 YEARS AGO.
ONLY DID TWO JOBS IN 2012 AND
HIS DAD NEVER PAID HIM.
>> AS FAR AS YOU'RE CONCERNED,
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY WORK BEING
DONE WITH THIS?
>> NO, I LOST JOBS BECAUSE OF
IT.
IT.
IT. THAT'S ALL I KNOW.
>> Reporter: YET RECORDS SHOW,
A CONSERVATION SERVICES,
CONTINUE TO BILL THE COUNTY FOR
YEARS AND BANK DOCUMENTS WE
RECEIVED THROUGH A REQUEST FROM
POLICE SHOWED COUNTY PAYMENTS
ENDED UP ON A BANK ACCOUNT
CONTROLLED BY THOMAS'S, JoANNE
SEEN SPEAKING AT IT CITY
COUNCIL MEETING LAST YEAR.
THEY PAID A CONSERVATION
SERVICES $413,000 IN A 5-YEAR
PERIOD.
PERIOD.
PERIOD. THAT IS TAX MONEY GOING INTO A
BANK ACCOUNT FOR THEIR
PERSONAL USE OF THOMAS AND HIS
WIFE.
WIFE.
WIFE. YOU
WIFE. YOU HAVE NOT FALSIFIED RECORDS?
MADE UP COMPANIES?
>> NO.
>> NO.
>> NO. >>
>> NO. >> Reporter: THIS SHOWS TRY 9
OFFICIALS COMPLAINED IN 2009,
10 YEARS AGO ABOUT THOMAS IN
DRAINAGE DISTRICT 5. RECORDS
SHOW YEARS OF COMPLAINTS SINCE
THEN TO KING COUNTY ELECTIONS,
THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, THE
STATE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
COMMISSION AND THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL, ALL DECLINED TO TAKE
ACTION.
ACTION.
ACTION. WORK HAS NOT BEEN DONE ON
MAINTAINING THOSE DRAINAGE
DITCHES.
DITCHES.
DITCHES. >> THERE'S BEEN SOME
COMPLAINTS, I GUARANTEE IT HAS
BEEN DONE.
BEEN DONE. >> Reporter: A COUPLE MORE
POINTS, THE FRAUD CASE TRY 9
POLICE INVESTIGATED IS SITTING
ON A PROSECUTORS DESK RIGHT NOW
, CONSIDERING CHARGES IN THAT
CASE.
CASE.
CASE. THE
CASE. THE STATES AUDITOR'S OFFICE IS
ALSO INVESTIGATING AND THEY
POINT TO A STATE LAW THAT SAYS
COMMISSIONER THOMAS IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN
ELECTIONS.
ELECTIONS. THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY 30 YEARS.
THIS LITTLE DRAINAGE DISTRICT
IS NOT ALONE, WE ARE CONTINUING
TO INVESTIGATE THE STORY.
NEXT WEEK, REPORT ANOTHER
SIMILAR LITTLE GOVERNMENT BUT