MONTEREY, Calif.- It's a Central Coast controversy we've been telling you about, as the drama behind the Monterey Peninsula water project continues. On Friday a Monterey County judge dismissed a civil suit brought against the board of supervisors by a former water official.
Former Monterey County Water Resources Agency board member Steve Collins claims the county is trying to tarnish his image with criminal conflict of interest allegations that ultimately derailed the peninsula's water desalination project. But this legal battle is all about one trying to get the other to stay quiet.
"There are emails starting from January 8th 2010 forward showing that the county counsel was involved with this," Collins said.
The controversy centers on Collins work for a company called RMC Water and Environment, the company hired by the county to manage the water project. Collins said he was recruited to work on the project and that supervisors knew of his business contracts before he was hired.
On Friday, Collins got a chance to present his case of alleged conspiracy, collusion and fraud against county supervisors. But a judge disagreed with Collins argument and dismissed the case. Collins said now he's going to take a look at his options. He said he may re-file the case here in Monterey or he make take it to the federal level.
"My civil rights have been seriously abridged here, I've had communications with federal agents at this point," Collins said.
But county attorneys said the judge's decision proves Collins is grasping at straws.
"It's all kind of all smoke and mirrors. I have something, I don't have something. I might have a conflict of interest, I don't know if I have a conflict. It kind of dances around. So it's the same thing here," said Monterey County counsel Charles McKee.
Meanwhile, Monterey County continues to investigate criminal charges during Collins' time with the water agency and on other business contracts. County attorneys said Collins's lawsuit was an attempt to keep the board of supervisors from talking about what really happened.
"There's no greater matter of public concern in Monterey County at this time than solving the water problem on the peninsula. It's most important that the leaders of the county be entitled to speak about those things," McKee said.
But Collins said he's not going down without a fight.
"We will move forward in one form or fashion after this, there is no quit or give up in me," Collins said.
Collins has been representing himself. But now he plans to hire a lawyer.
