Good afternoon –

You may have read today’s Wichita Eagle story alleging that I used my influence to award friends of mine the contract for the new water treatment facility. I want to assure you that these allegations are simply not true. In fact, our process is designed so that this kind of favoritism cannot happen. The full City Council made this decision based on what is best for the community. Attached and below you can read my response to today’s Wichita Eagle story.

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The topic of Wichita’s water system has been the subject of recent news coverage. As a vital piece to our city’s infrastructure, it should be getting a lot of attention. The City takes the issue of water very seriously and our top priority through this project is to ensure a safe and high quality water supply for generations to come. That will not be compromised. In fact, for the last eight years, our city’s Public Works team and the Wichita City Council have been evaluating and implementing a plan to ensure Wichita’s water system is sustainable and delivers world-class water quality into the future.

However, I feel that today’s Eagle story alleging my relationships steered the selection process for the Northwest Wichita Water Treatment Facility greatly misrepresented my influence throughout the contract selection process. Honestly, it was a difficult story to read because each day I come to work with the city’s best interests in mind, thinking about how we can help our city can meet our goals and solve our biggest challenges.

But, if I were in your shoes reading this story about my mayor, I’d have questions. So, I’d like to address those here.

Also,  you should know that I willingly provided the Eagle staff more than 2,300 pages of documents, including my emails and calendar details to help inform their story, which was even more than they requested.  Also, City staff, City Council and myself granted interviews and provided responses to their questions on this topic. And yet, the full story has not been told through their coverage.

An essential part of my job – and that of City Council – is to build and maintain positive relationships in Wichita’s business community. If what the Eagle alleges were actually true, I would have awarded the contract to both Wichita Water Partners AND Jacobs. While I have relationships with two individuals who work among the seven Wichita Water Partners organizations, I have even closer relationships with individuals on the Jacobs team. You should know that the last thing I would do is make a city business decision based on who I go to dinner with or who I might choose to go golfing with.

Instead, I am a part of a team. A team that deliberately keeps each other in check. We question and challenge each step, and that is an intentional process designed to ensure we have the best deal for our city. The City of Wichita has been tackling the water issue head-on for eight years. This is an incredibly complex undertaking and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to solve a major issue for the benefit of the city’s future residents and businesses.

It’s also important to remember that there has been  – and continues to be – consistent oversight and numerous checkpoints to ensure we are upholding the integrity of the process from contractor selection and design to the build and operation of the facility. In fact, at the beginning of this process we engaged national engineering firm, Garver, as an independent third-party to oversee the intricacies of this project and ensure residents receive the best possible facility.

Wichita is a tight-knit community, and during my time as mayor – and before – I have built relationships with many local business owners and leaders. Public-private partnership is an ideal model for city development and is one that is embraced by cities across the country. While these relationships help to build trust, my personal relationships don’t influence my decisions to do what is right for our city.

Let’s not lose sight that Wichita Water Partners, who was awarded the contract, had the appropriate credentials, brought value to the table, and will keep more dollars local.  I will always fight to keep money in our community.

This is a topic that deserves the attention and engagement of the community. And, as mayor of this All-America City, I commit to the continued transparency and communication around this important topic. I invite you to email me with any questions you have. Please contact me at JLongwell@wichita.gov.

Thank you.

Your mayor,

Jeff Longwell