COMMENTARY

MARK SCHUMANN

Vero Beach City Councilwoman Pilar Turner’s interview with WTTB host Bob Soos this week gave rise to numereous comments about her objection to including Crestlawn Cemetery, along with nearly a dozen parks, in a proposed Charter amendment to be put before voters this fall. That amendment would protect the public lands from sale or lease without voter approval.

Turner’s most shocking statement, though, was one that has gone unaddressed.  Turner, who has yet to publicly announce whether she will run for reelection, told WTTB’s listeners the customers of Vero Electric will have to pay some $46 million in stranded costs when the City withdraws from the Florida Municipal Power Agency’s All Requirements Project.

Turner seems to have assumed Charlie Wilson’s role as Misinformer In Chief, for she knows the stranded costs will only have to be paid if and when the City actually withdraws from the ARP.  That withdrawal date is set for October 1, 2016.

If the sale of Vero Electric to FPL unravles, a prospect that not seems certain, the $46-million question is whether Turner and her fellow Council members can persuade the FMPA to allow Vero Beach to rescind its request to leave the ARP. Technically, requests to withdraw from the ARP are irrevocable, but, with the FPL deal dead in the water, it is difficult to imagine a scenario in which FMPA leaders would not allow Vero Beach to reconsider.

The one sticking point may be FPL insistence on keeping the now defunct purchase and sale agreement in force until Dec. 31, 2016.

Well, there is a second issue, that being Turner’s continued role as the City’s representative on the FMPA board.  As if they are siamese twins, Turner and County Commissioner Tim Zorc regularly show up together at FMPA board meetings.  Just as regularly, they leave those meetings leveling largely unfounded criticisms of the agency.