Flying is hard

[Trice]

And for that, I agree that he deserves at least some ridicule, maybe a lot.

If I haven't said it already, it's not like I think this alone is a fireable offense or something. But his behavior during this whole stretch - stonewalling, denial, finally making it right while still insisting he did nothing wrong - convinces me that there's much more of this type of thing going on. Perhaps not blatantly illegal acts but this low-level type of corruption that individually isn't much but adds up to a pattern of behavior that should raise great concern to people who care about good governance.

Having said all that, I don't think it matters as long as Rastetter oversees the BoR.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Having said all that, I don't think it matters as long as Rastetter oversees the BoR.

Clarify - are you saying that Rastetter will make things right, or that it doesn't matter because Rastetter will sweep it under the rug anyway?

Just curious.

 

[Trice]

Clarify - are you saying that Rastetter will make things right, or that it doesn't matter because Rastetter will sweep it under the rug anyway?

Just curious.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Rastetter will make things right" but basically Leath will never truly be held to account as long as Rastetter oversees the board. As evidenced by Monday's praise of Leath following the meeting.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

I'm not sure what you mean by "Rastetter will make things right" but basically Leath will never truly be held to account as long as Rastetter oversees the board. As evidenced by Monday's praise of Leath following the meeting.

Yeah, guess I was as unclear as you! What I meant by "make things right" was, Rastetter would honorably and without bias implement the necessary corrections/punishments. Which of course is a pipe dream...IMO.

 

[ISUAlum2002]

Can't get this to delete on mobile.

 

[ISUAlum2002]

That's not true. Iowa Code 721.2 refers to personal use of state property "to the detriment of the state." If the state is reimbursed, there is a real question about whether there is any "detriment." Nor does there appear to be a clear ISU policy prohibiting what he did.

Where can I find a list of state owned equipment available for personal use? I have a lot of projects to get done and I promise to return these items without detriment to the state.

 

[Transient]

Were the 'hard' landings detrimental to the various planes or the Universities insurances rates?

According to one article I read the insurance covering things was contingent on him having a copilot aboard, apparently which he never did...

 

[ImJustKCClone]

That's not true. Iowa Code 721.2 refers to personal use of state property "to the detriment of the state." If the state is reimbursed, there is a real question about whether there is any "detriment." Nor does there appear to be a clear ISU policy prohibiting what he did.

If you want to be critical about the guy's lousy judgment, go right ahead. But if you're not honest about the standards, it's hard for me to say you're any better than he is.

ISU transportation services has pretty extensive guidelines for the motorpool vehicles.
http://www.policy.iastate.edu/policy/vehicle
I find it strange that there are not similar guidelines for the airplanes.

 

[AuH2O]

That's not true. Iowa Code 721.2 refers to personal use of state property "to the detriment of the state." If the state is reimbursed, there is a real question about whether there is any "detriment." Nor does there appear to be a clear ISU policy prohibiting what he did.

If you want to be critical about the guy's lousy judgment, go right ahead. But if you're not honest about the standards, it's hard for me to say you're any better than he is.

Surely allowing the state to incur costs and tremendous liabity for someone's personal use is at the detriment to the state. It's my understanding that not all of the personal use was reimbursed until after they were brought to light.
Regardless, having a relatively inexperienced pilot using a $3 M plane introduces huge risk, and its ridiculous to expect the state or ISU to take on any of that risk. If he totals the plane during personal use do you think he's going to reimburse ISU for that? How about if he kills someone or damages property? Is Leath going to cover ISUs costs to deal with that?

Additionally ISUs policy to clarify the code states that vehicles are not to be removed from ISU property for personal use period. Because of the obvious cost and risk involved in that case there is no need to further define detriment to the state.

 

[CycloneErik]

ISU transportation services has pretty extensive guidelines for the motorpool vehicles.
http://www.policy.iastate.edu/policy/vehicle
I find it strange that there are not similar guidelines for the airplanes.

Peons don't use the planes.

 

[wxman1]

Surely allowing the state to incur costs and tremendous liabity for someone's personal use is at the detriment to the state. It's my understanding that not all of the personal use was reimbursed until after they were brought to light.
Regardless, having a relatively inexperienced pilot using a $3 M plane introduces huge risk, and its ridiculous to expect the state or ISU to take on any of that risk. If he totals the plane during personal use do you think he's going to reimburse ISU for that? How about if he kills someone or damages property? Is Leath going to cover ISUs costs to deal with that?

Additionally ISUs policy to clarify the code states that vehicles are not to be removed from ISU property for personal use period. Because of the obvious cost and risk involved in that case there is no need to further define detriment to the state.

Just for clarification. The plane that he could personally fly (with permission, and with a university pilot) is the Cirrus which brand new is in the $800k range. Used prices vary a lot. He used the King Air but could not fly it.

 

[AuH2O]

And for that, I agree that he deserves at least some ridicule, maybe a lot.

Try violating a law that costs someone else money. I'm sure if you pay them back after you get caught and claim ignorance of the law you will be sentenced to ridicule.

 

[AuH2O]

Just for clarification. The plane that he could personally fly (with permission, and with a university pilot) is the Cirrus which brand new is in the $800k range. Used prices vary a lot. He used the King Air but could not fly it.

My mistake, thanks for the correction.

 

[LutherBlue]

Surely allowing the state to incur costs and tremendous liabity for someone's personal use is at the detriment to the state. It's my understanding that not all of the personal use was reimbursed until after they were brought to light.
Regardless, having a relatively inexperienced pilot using a $3 M plane introduces huge risk, and its ridiculous to expect the state or ISU to take on any of that risk. If he totals the plane during personal use do you think he's going to reimburse ISU for that? How about if he kills someone or damages property? Is Leath going to cover ISUs costs to deal with that?

Additionally ISUs policy to clarify the code states that vehicles are not to be removed from ISU property for personal use period. Because of the obvious cost and risk involved in that case there is no need to further define detriment to the state.

I can't make myself dumb enough to respond to this.

I won't quibble with anyone who thinks he was stupid or even shady. But it is far less apparent that he violated Iowa law or ISU policy.

 

[Trice]

I can't make myself dumb enough to respond to this.

I won't quibble with anyone who thinks he was stupid or even shady. But it is far less apparent that he violated Iowa law or ISU policy.

Let's stipulate for a minute that he did break the law. Even then I highly doubt that changes anything or that anything serious comes of it. So in practical terms, I'm not sure it matters whether he did or didn't.

I've been highly critical of Leath not just because I want to see him pay some dumb fine just for appearance's sake but because I think acting responsibly as the head of a public institution is important. I have concerns about his decision-making and leadership. Setting aside the admitted wrongs he committed here, just the matter of how he handled this once news came out has been a case study in what NOT to do.

 

[LutherBlue]

Where can I find a list of state owned equipment available for personal use? I have a lot of projects to get done and I promise to return these items without detriment to the state.

I'm not aware of any list. Why don't you start calling around to state agencies and see what they say?

 

[isufbcurt]

I'm not aware of any list. Why don't you start calling around to state agencies and see what they say?

Heck while working at the State Auditors Office I frequently had to use a State car to travel to bfe Iowa. Nights in bfe Iowa were boring so I regularly used the State issued car to travel to nearby towns, where I had "friends" to hang out.

According to some in this thread I committed a heinous crime.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Heck while working at the State Auditors Office I frequently had to use a State car to travel to bfe Iowa. Nights in bfe Iowa were boring so I regularly used the State issued car to travel to nearby towns, where I had "friends" to hang out.

According to some in this thread I committed a heinous crime.

Heinous?
No.
Unethical?
Yes.

 

[SpokaneCY]

That's not true. Iowa Code 721.2 refers to personal use of state property "to the detriment of the state." If the state is reimbursed, there is a real question about whether there is any "detriment." Nor does there appear to be a clear ISU policy prohibiting what he did.

If you want to be critical about the guy's lousy judgment, go right ahead. But if you're not honest about the standards, it's hard for me to say you're any better than he is.

As a former auditor - you could hang an army of beaurucrats with that language depending on how you felt.

Absent a comprehensive set of policies and procedures, inclusion or specific exclusion in employment documents, etc... there is no protection from BOTH outsiders looking to make ethical hay or a power-hungry administrator who can rely on nebulous or missing standards he's required to adhere to.

If he can use the plane as his private plane and tally 80% of the flights as certification, spell it out and move on. If he has latitude to divert the plane to pick up his family on the way to a game, spell it out. It's easy and it protects ALL parties.

Sloppy work by the university. Did Leath commit crimes? Not even close. Did he give the mere appearance of being ethically challenged? Absolutely.

You shouldn't ever have to say that what you did was perfectly fine then pledge to never do it again. Document it to eliminate all doubt.

 

[SpokaneCY]

Am I correct in recalling that he didn't reimburse the state/ISU for any of this until all of this came to light? So sure, he ultimately made it right, but he clearly would not have done so without the negative publicity around this.

The appearance of impropriety.