BY MARK SCHUMANN

Now 20 months into their efforts to execute the sale of Vero Electric to Florida Power & Light, Councilman Richard Winger says he believes the transactional attorneys should be much closer to resolving key issues that remain as possible impediments to the sale.

At the very least, Winger says, the Council should have been told by now what the transactional attorneys’ plans are for traveling what they have described as “an arduous path.”

Winger has placed his concerns on the agenda for next Tuesday’s Council meeting, and is requesting at least one of the transaction attorneys be present to answer questions.

The Council will be asked next week to approve an additional $300,000 for the services of Rick Miller, John Igoe and their law firm, Edwards Wildman Palmer.  “While I continue to strongly support whatever it takes or costs to complete the sale, without a time schedule, I cannot vote for more money for the transactional attorney,” Winger wrote.

Through March, Edwards Wildman Palmer has charge the city $1.1 million, and is requesting an additional $200,000 be approved, though that amount is likely to cover the cost of the firm’s serves for no more than a few more months.

The sale of the city’s electric system is many months, if not years away from closing, and some are wondering what the final cost will be to the city.  One official, who asked to remain anonymous, said yesterday he expects the city’s total legal bill to be as much as $4 million.

Edwards Wildman was first recommended to the city by former councilman Brian Heady, who said he learned of the firm searching the internet.