Wrongful termination suit filed against BPU

A former internal auditor is suing the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities for wrongful termination, the Kansas City Kansan reported this morning.

The lawsuit was filed by Rick Yarnell, a former director of the utility’s internal audit department. The BPU eliminated and outsourced the internal audit department last year.

The lawsuit follows the indictment of the BPU’s chief administrative

officer, allegations of clean air violations and an auditor’s report revealing that the power company gave out 21 no bid contracts.

I called Yarnell’s attorney and the BPU for comment, and I’ll update you when I hear something.

Update: OK, so the BPU doesn’t have a comment. The utility company’s spokesman, David Mehlhaaff told me, “We just dont’ comment on personnel issues.”