COMMENTARY

“Brunjes’ criticism of Mayor Winger underscored the fact that when FPL does not get what FPL wants, things can get nasty.”

MARK SCHUMANN

On the south barrier island, where the City’s willingness to extend utility services has greatly aided development, activist Glenn Heran and County Commissioner Bob Solari have soured the political climate, if not poisoned the well.

A case in point is the caustic and combative tone taken in an email attachment circulated recently by South Beach Property Owners Association President George Lamborn.  (See Below) The group, which regularly hears from Heran and Solari, will hold an open annual meeting at The Moorings Yacht & Country Club, March 19.

None other than Florida Power & Light External Affairs Manager Amy Brunjes, City Councilwoman Pilar Turner, Solar and Heran will be on stage, so to speak, to put their spin on FPL’s proposal to assess a $26 million surcharge on the customers of Vero Electric.

Visiting with Scripps Treasure Coast Newspaper reporters and editors a few weeks ago, FPL President Eric Silagy somehow managed to spin the truth in a way that convinced reporter Henry Stephens that $111.5 million plus $26 million equals $163.5 million.  During the County Commission meeting this week, when asked by Solari how much the City Vero Beach will gain from the sale, Brunjes said $36 million, not the $3 million you keep hearing about.”

Brunjes was careful, though, not to explain that most of that $36 million already belongs to the City in the form of utility reserve funds.  It is not as if FPL is bringing that money to the table.

Given the lineup of speakers and their proclivity to spin, twist and even distort the truth, it is unlikely the SBPOA meeting will be anything more than a pro-sale pep rally.  Don’t be surprised, though, if the event receives front-page coverage the following day in the Press Journal, for the newspaper’s reporters and editors are showing themselves to be increasingly incapable of offering balanced reporting on the sale.

Echoing utility activist Charlie Wilson, the document Lamborn circulated sounded a call to arms, as if a state of war exists between the City and the Florida Municipal Power Agency.  The writer went so far as to suggested it might be time for the State Attorney General to investigation of the FMPA for “anti-trust activities.”

Apparently oblivious to the fact that the FMPA has a solid credit rating, and annually receives a clear report from third-party auditors, the writer of the Lamborn-circulated note seems to believe the FMPA will cower at the prospect of an investigation.  During Tuesdays Commission meeting said the FMPA is “terribly run.”  What neither Solari nor the writer of the Lambor-circulated seem to understand is that the FMPA’s primary responsibility is to ensure contracts which protect the interests of its member cities and bondholders are upheld.

Brunjes took an equally confrontational tone yesterday when she starred in a pro-sale rally hosted by the County Commission.  Among her inflammatory remarks, Brunjes essentially accused Mayor Richard Winger of obstructing the sale.  “The jury is still out on the city,” Brunjes said. At one point, Brunjes even described the proposed payment to the FMPA to assume Vero Beach’s power for three years as “the FMPA penalty.”

Contrary to questions Brunjes may have hope to raise about Mayor Winger’s motivations, he is widely viewed as bringing a reasoned, temperate, positive voice to the negotiations, while also insisting any final deal be fair to the City and its taxpayers.  Brunjes’ criticism of Mayor Winger underscored the fact that when FPL does not get what FPL wants, things can get nasty.

While clearly critical of the of Winger and his fellow Council members Amelia Graves and Jay Kramer for tabling a motion to approve FPL’s proposed $26 million surcharge, Brunjes made no effort to explain that the Council had been given very little time to consider the plan.  In contrast, FPL took more than two months to decide on its latest move.

Brunjes, always careful to offer a selective presentation of the facts, also did not explain that the FMPA has encouraged FPL to instead make its $52 million offer to the Orlando Utilities Commission.  “It seems more straight forward, as I mentioned before, for FPL, and OUC to directly negotiate a price — be it $52 million or any other figure — for the up to three-year power sale, which would avoid any IRS private use restrictions,” FMPA General Manager wrote to FPL President Eric Silagy March 5.

For example, when the Public Service Commission several years ago refused to approve a $1 billion plus rate increase for FPL, the company, now headed by its former chief lobbyist, Eric Silagy, persuaded the Florida Legislature to fire PSC members who were being less than compliant with the company’s wishes. (See Related Story)

To be sure, there is virtually no limit to the political muscle and money FPL can invest in realizing its goal of acquire Vero Electric as a first step in a statewide conquest of municipal utilities.  It would seem that one of the next stops for the FPL spin doctors will be the March 19 meeting of the South Beach Property Owners Association.