COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Michigan South Central Power Agency General Manager Paul Beckhusen has issued a statement after the agency Board of Directors voted 4-1 following a closed session on Thursday to have the Lansing law firm of Fraser Trebilcock investigate a personnel issue involving him. Beckhusen said, “I have absolutely nothing to hide and there are no issues, but I respect the MSCPA Board’s decision and welcome an investigation. Though I do not feel that this is an effective use of the Agency’s financial resources, I will fully cooperate with the process. I look forward to the final results of the investigation and I am confident that my full exoneration from any issues will be the result.”
The controversy surrounding Beckhusen goes back two years when the Coldwater Board of Public Utilities bought the former Sauk Trail Trading Post building at 168 Division Street for $168,000 for the purpose of putting in office space for the Agency and the Coldwater BPU’s technology center. Beckhusen was the BPU Director at the time of the transaction. He became the MSCPA General Manager last year.
Some MSCPA board members have raised concerns about the rising cost of the building and what they felt was a lack of transparency.
Board member and Union City Village Manager Chris Mathis motioned for the investigation on Thursday but his subsequent motion to have Beckhusen suspended with pay pending the investigation was defeated.
Following the second closed session, A committee was formed to investigate the lease or purchase options for the Division Street building which is currently owned by the Coldwater BPU
