Utility decision may aid buyout (Citrus Springs)
By Terry Witt
The Florida Governmental Utility Authority’s staff may make it easier for the county to work on its proposed buyout of FGUA’s systems.
In a Feb. 17 memo, FGUA staff recommended dumping its current plan to hire a new operations and customer service contractor, a process that could complicate the buyout.
The county commission doesn’t want to be saddled with a new operations and customer service operator for the next five years if it decides to purchase FGUA’s 11 water and five sewer systems in Citrus County.
FGUA staff has been ready since November last year to hire U.S. Water/Wade Trim as the new contractor to run its systems, but the county hasn’t been prepared to make a decision on the buyout.
In the memo, Systems Administrator Robert Sheets recommended canceling the contract proposal process involving U.S. Water/Wade Trim and modifying its existing contract with Severn Trent, the current contractor.
Sheets said any new contract with Severn Trent would set higher standards for performance and impose penalties if the company did not meet the requirements. If FGUA could not come to terms with Severn Trent in 60 days, it would have the right to negotiate directly with the other potential providers.
FGUA staff will make the recommendation at Friday’s FGUA board meeting in Lehigh Acres.
The county commission is studying whether it would be in the best interests of FGUA’s customers if the county bought its 11 local water and sewer systems, which include Sugarmill Woods, Pine Ridge and Citrus Springs.
County staff is expected to make a presentation about the buyout on Feb. 28.
Sheets said the decision to terminate the process involving U.S. Water/Wade Trim was in keeping with its philosophy of being a tool for local governments.
“We always yield to local governments’ prerogative,” he said Tuesday.
The county commission decided to consider purchasing FGUA’s systems in part because customers were complaining about FGUA. The government utility had proposed property assessments in Citrus Springs and Pine Ridge without county approval.
Later on, FGUA agreed to allow the county’s Water and Wastewater Authority to review the assessments.
The Florida Governmental Utility Authority’s staff may make it easier for the county to work on its proposed buyout of FGUA’s systems.
In a Feb. 17 memo, FGUA staff recommended dumping its current plan to hire a new operations and customer service contractor, a process that could complicate the buyout.
The county commission doesn’t want to be saddled with a new operations and customer service operator for the next five years if it decides to purchase FGUA’s 11 water and five sewer systems in Citrus County.
FGUA staff has been ready since November last year to hire U.S. Water/Wade Trim as the new contractor to run its systems, but the county hasn’t been prepared to make a decision on the buyout.
In the memo, Systems Administrator Robert Sheets recommended canceling the contract proposal process involving U.S. Water/Wade Trim and modifying its existing contract with Severn Trent, the current contractor.
Sheets said any new contract with Severn Trent would set higher standards for performance and impose penalties if the company did not meet the requirements. If FGUA could not come to terms with Severn Trent in 60 days, it would have the right to negotiate directly with the other potential providers.
FGUA staff will make the recommendation at Friday’s FGUA board meeting in Lehigh Acres.
The county commission is studying whether it would be in the best interests of FGUA’s customers if the county bought its 11 local water and sewer systems, which include Sugarmill Woods, Pine Ridge and Citrus Springs.
County staff is expected to make a presentation about the buyout on Feb. 28.
Sheets said the decision to terminate the process involving U.S. Water/Wade Trim was in keeping with its philosophy of being a tool for local governments.
“We always yield to local governments’ prerogative,” he said Tuesday.
The county commission decided to consider purchasing FGUA’s systems in part because customers were complaining about FGUA. The government utility had proposed property assessments in Citrus Springs and Pine Ridge without county approval.
Later on, FGUA agreed to allow the county’s Water and Wastewater Authority to review the assessments.
posted by Editor Facts & Myths @ 3:18 PM
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