My early apprehension of Johnson Controls Inc’s (JCI) qualifications is proving correct.

Concealing or not regularly informing and documenting the client/owner of project events and changed conditions that impact budgeted and contractual costs is impossibly stupid, irresponsible, unprofessional and perhaps even illegal.

In JCI’s case it may simply reflect blind inexperience.

I now wonder how the Duluth program is being managed and if costly change orders are also being concealed from the Duluth School District and School Board.

The offer — or admission by JCI’s Randy Anderson to “suddenly” reveal and amend their contract to regularly report the submittal of costly change orders to St. Louis County School District 2142 can be described as an insult and admission of JCI’s inexperience and arrogance when serving a vulnerable, inexperienced client with an inadequate technical support staff.

I applaud the Timberjay’s extraordinary crusade to expose the vulgar side of American capitalism and flawed democracy.  William Lamppa and Harold Honkola will also probably embrace such embarrassing revelations.

But the larger picture is that we Americans are determined to confront such failings without losing our belief in our country’s basic competence, integrity, historical nobility and global leadership.  God Bless The United States of America.

Charles Torkko

Denver, Colo.