The Sedgwick County district attorney’s office says it’s looking into some concerns raised over the awarding of a contract for a new water treatment plant in northwest Wichita.

An article in the September 29th edition of the Wichita Eagle newspaper accused mayor Jeff Longwell of steering the contract toward friends with a local company, but Longwell responded that he and the city council have followed a process in regard to the contract, and he said his personal relationships are not influencing decisions on what is right for the city.   The city council had voted 5-2 in February to approve the contract with Wichita Water Partners.   Council members Bryan Frye and James Clendenin voted no out of concerns over the process.

Mayor Longwell told KFDI News that the district attorney has not reached out to him to explain what the concern is, and the mayor said he will cooperate with any request for information.

Georgia Webb with the DA’s office told KFDI that several emails had been received from one individual about the treatment plant contract.   She said the Eagle had been told by some readers that they had filed complaints with the DA’s office, and the newspaper wanted to confirm that.

The DA’s office will be looking over the concerns it has received on the water treatment plant contract.