Charter Amendment protecting parks and recreation lands,
legal counsel for power sale negotiations also on tonight’s agency
MARK SCHUMANN
The City Council tonight is expected to approve a plan to charge its out-of-city water and sewer customers the same rates they would pay if the were utility customers of the County. The move is largely intended to address concerns among the City’s approximately 3,000 south barrier island customers, some of whom have said they would prefer to be served by the County. The new water and sewer rates will apply to all of the City’s customers outside the city limits.
Some utility activists, who have pushed for the County to take over water and sewer service to the south barrier island, are now critical of the City’s plan. Because larger volume users pay more on the County’s rate structure, some of the City’s customers will be paying higher rates after they are switched to the new rate plan. The City’s low-volume users, however, will pay less. According to City staff, the City’s and County’s rate plans are essentially revenue neutral, though clearly there will be some winner and losers.
The Council is also to review a proposed list of parks and recreation lands to be included in a Charter Amendment to go before voters in November. If approved, the Charter Amendment will protect additional public lands, including Crestlawn Cemetery, from sale or lease without voter approval.
Also on the Council’s agenda for this evening is a proposal from City Manager Jim O’Connor to hire outside legal counsel specifically to assist in negotiations with the Florida Municipal Power Agency. O’Connor said his recommendation is not to replace the transactional attorneys, who will continue to be involved in role in structuring the sale. Rather, O’Connor said he believes the City needs additional legal assistance in its negotiations with the FMPA.
Indian River Guardian 
“Outside legal counsel” in Indian River County seems to be growing at a more rapid rate than . lobbyists in Washington, D. C. Appparently there are pots of gold all over the county that the citizens were not aware of because our leaders on the County Commission, City Council and School District have no problem finding special projects to identify as a means to empty those pots of gold on a routine basis,
It doesn’t appear the COVB will please those “utility activists” no matter what it does. County customers of COVB water and sewer could find their bills higher on the County rate, depending on the amount of water they use? Well, had they looked at the facts more closely, perhaps they’d have left well enough alone. Or, they could get together and petition to become part of the City.
Cathy’s suggestion about the county residents becoming a part of the city is never going to happen. Watching the TV broadcast of the clown show that the COVB meetings have become is enough to scare off any sane person.
if the city was cheaper, and I could, I would switch, im on the county. im not impressed by the water they have. I have a personal reverse osmosis machine for the home. the city uses the same type of water.