|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Vote no on Nov. 8
Article published on Friday, Oct. 28, 2005 |
Editor:
An important decision faces Belleair residents on Nov. 8. A wrong vote could prove financially disastrous for our town not to mention disastrous response time by the proposed one and a half men and a truck after a major storm.
Mayor Mariani, who promised his dad he’d see that Belleair municipalized the power, went on record stating simplistic steps involved in this municipalization. 1. Purchase the system from Progress Energy. 2. Separate the system. 3. Use the cash flow to underground, reduce taxes, or pay down debt or whatever.
Based on Winter Park’s experience, separating the system will be anything but smooth. Separating circuits that once traveled to Progress Energy substations have to be rerouted to come from town owned substations, which the town would have to build. This changed path creates the following problems: Uneven loads, circuit breakers, fuses and other protective devices are no longer in the proper place, or the correct size to adequately do their jobs, resulting in major black outs.
What if there is no cash flow due to circumstances beyond Belleair’s control? Such as fluctuating fuel prices, hurricanes, a nationwide recession? Do we raise taxes, raise power rates, give the system back to Progress Energy?
A number of Belleair residents are on Progress Energy’s load management program, some receive up to $150 in credits a year. Town-owned utilities don’t offer this program.
In the July 28 Belleair Bee, Town Manager Steve Cottrell cited seven cities as proven to be successful with municipalization. All were formed prior to 1926 and did not have the debt of a start-up utility. He also said, “For municipalities the size of Belleair, operating its own waste water system is not especially efficient.”
Wonder why operating power distribution is any different?
Forgetting about cost, do we have confidence in the town’s ability to run power service when the sewers, potable water, roads and drainage in Belleair leave a lot to be desired.
The commissioners recently voted to table discussion over Manager Steve Cottrell’s contract renewal and revisit it at a later date. I propose that the town of Belleair take the same approach with the power issue and sign a 10-year franchise agreement with Progress Energy, rather than another 30-year agreement, then revisit this municipalization issue again in 2016, giving the energy crisis time to shake out and time to fix the problems with our current utilities and infrastructure.
Vote no on the Nov. 8 referendum.
Lil Cromer
Belleair
|
Article published on Friday, Oct. 28, 2005
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tampa Bay Newspapers
9911 Seminole Blvd.
Seminole, FL 33772
(727) 397-5563
Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
|
|
