County Administrator seems less than pleased
COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
Late last week, Vero Beach’s special counsel, Schef Wright, sent Indian River County Attorney Dylan Reingold a board and expansive public records request. Wright asked for copies of documents and records of communications going back to January 1, 2013.
Wright’s request, also made of the Town of Indian River Shores, is far broader than a records request submitted July 21 to the Shores and the County by Inside Vero. The County has not yet provide Inside Vero with the documents requested. The Shores provided most of the written documents but has yet to supply telephone records. (See the full text of Wright’s public records request below)
Copies of email correspondence the Town of Indian River Shores did provide raise serious questions about whether the Town hired its special counsel, Bruce May, in full compliance with Florida’s open government laws. (See: Shores Councilman urges town manager to schedule public meeting for “an extremely inconvenient time”)
Unless documents are destroyed, Wright’s records request will surely reveal whether Florida Power & Light officials have been working directly or indirectly with Shores Town Councilmen and their representatives, County Commissioners and County staff, encouraging, supporting or advising them on the Shores’ and County’s effort to essentially take two thirds of Vero Electric’s customer base without compensation.
If FPL officials have collaborated with the County or the Shores, the company may be facing a $5 million penalty for breach of contract. As well, any such breach would likely render the contract null and void.
Apparently not pleased with Wright’s request, County Administrator Joe Baird forwarded it to City Clerk Tammy Vock asking her to share the letter with the members of the City Council. Though Pilar Turner, and possible Craig Fletcher, might be counted on to micromanage the City’s special counsel, it seems unlikely the remaining three council members will be so inclined.
Indian River Guardian 
Although I believe the contract between FPL and the city is already null and void it is a great idea to see if there was any collusion between IRS,FPL and the county poachers.. Desperate politicians do desperate things. It looks like there may have been some backroom discussions; there are too many coincidences with these law suits.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. It does seem way too “coincidental” for two public/governmental entities to be on the same page. Very convenient. Whether there were people who acted as “go-betweens”, Morse code, or some other means of communicating, we will find out.
So we pile up more attorney’s fees. Wonder how much has been or will be spent before something that never should have happened finally dies a painful death? Wonder how much positive could have been done with money spent on attorneys.? Wonder who has the deepest pockets? Might it be FP&L?