Soap Lake Council seeks records compliance with order for mayor’s phone, computer

SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council unanimously voted to require Mayor Peter Sharp to turn in his city-issued cell phone and computer by 9 a.m. Thursday, citing concerns over delays in responding to public records requests. 

The action followed statements from Administrative Assistant and Public Records Officer Jody Siebert, who said the city has received little to no response from the mayor regarding several outstanding requests. 

Sharp turned in his city-issued cell phone to Soap Lake Police Chief Patrick Canady prior to the meeting. Siebert confirmed to the Columbia Basin Herald that the mayor’s computer was returned Thursday morning. She also said Sharp signed an affidavit regarding one of the requests.  

“As the public records officer for the city, I have two specific record requests that were due with next installments last Wednesday,” Siebert said. “I, as well as the city attorney, have been asking for the mayor to provide response records and/or give access to the records to staff.” 

Siebert referenced Resolution 1038, passed unanimously March 18, which declared a vote of no confidence in Sharp. She also cited Resolution 1039, passed April 1, which requires city employees to preserve and protect public records. That resolution removed Sharp’s access to his previous city’s email account, though he was provided with a new one. 

One outstanding request, submitted April 7, sought text messages. Siebert said she notified the mayor April 9 via his city email and a phone call to his city-issued phone, followed by additional emails on May 27 and June 2 requesting either the records or an affidavit. She said Sharp responded June 3, indicating he needed to review the request. 

A second request, received April 2, sought Ring camera logs and video footage. Siebert said she notified Sharp April 14 and followed up April 28. She said Sharp responded at that time that City Clerk Coley Olson could fulfill the request. 

However, Olson said she did not have access to the city’s Ring account until recently, stating the password she was given was incorrect. 

Siebert said she sent another follow-up email on May 27 but received no response. 

“These responses from the mayor, of lack thereof, are concerning,” Siebert said. “I have had to extend the city’s response to these requests. If the mayor would have notified me in a timely manner, the records exist and/or provided access to the camera system, both of the requests could have been fulfilled and closed out instead of extended.” 

Siebert also noted a third request, received April 14, for similar Ring camera information with an upcoming deadline. She said the mayor was notified April 15 and again May 7 but has not responded. 

“I am aware the city attorney has reached out to the mayor concerning these requests and has had little to no response from the mayor,” Siebert said. “If a SLPD officer, or really any other city employee, was in possession of text messages or other records being requested, without question, the officer would be required to surrender the messenger or document or surrender the storage device that the records were on and the request could be processed. The mayor should be held to nothing less.” 

Council members expressed concern about potential consequences for the city. Mayor Pro Tempore Kayleen Bryson said the delays could place the city at risk, a sentiment echoed by Council Member Susan Carson. Siebert said the city could face penalties of up to $100 per day for delays in fulfilling requests. 

Carson also referenced a May 6 resolution to establish a performance-based pay scale for the mayor. One of seven listed responsibilities required providing documentation for public records requests in order to receive the full $600 monthly pay. Sharp was paid the full amount for May. 

“He did get paid, but this is before we had all this knowledge, so I truly think that at this point we need to go ahead and take those devices,” Carson said. 

Sharp pushed back on how he said the situation has been characterized. 

“This narrative that you guys keep creating, that I am some evil mastermind, I wrote some massive evil laws, it is absolutely outrageous,” Sharp said. “I have done a lot in the community. I have done a lot from my position as mayor.” 

Sharp said he had been in communication with Siebert, explaining he could not access the Ring camera system after losing access to his old mayoral email. However, he said all of this communication was verbal, with no corresponding records. He also said the requested text messages were stored on his city-issued phone. 

The council ultimately directed that the devices be turned over along with any necessary access credentials. 

“The mayor needs to provide pass codes and access codes to any of these items tomorrow morning, June 4 at 9 a.m. That seems reasonable to me,” Bryson said. “We will take it from there and see if we need any further action after that.” 

    Mayor Peter Sharp was paid $600 for the month of May after the council passed a performance-based pay scale. One of the requirements for his full stipend was complying with public records requests, which according to Public Records Officer Jody Siebert has not been happening.