Will send representative to today’s meeting
The Jay Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to stand against District 1 State Sen. Doug Broxson’s proposal to form a North Santa Rosa County Regional Utility and says it will be represented at the North Santa Rosa Utility Coalition at a press conference at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) in Milton to outline its resistance.
Estimated to require in excess of $5 million as an initial investment, Broxson says the proposed bill will ‘streamline’ the water system for a population growth that is estimated in the county in the next 10 years.
“We’ve had conversations with some of the other utility companies that are involved in this bill that Broxson is attempting to pass,” said Jay Mayor Shon Owens. “It seems obvious and probably 100 percent everybody agrees that this is not best for Santa Rosa County.”
Owens went on to say everyone he has communicated with is against the proposal. He said even the larger utility companies, such as Pace and Milton, are not on board with it.
“For us, I think it needs to be the same stance,” said Owens. “As far as having control over your utilities, I think it’s a bad idea.”
“The bill is 23 pages long,” said Elijah Bell, president of the Moore Creek-Mt. Carmel Water System. “It’s not a lot about what’s said in the bill, it’s about what’s not said in the bill.”
Bell referred to the use of ‘the intent’ as worded in the bill, citing that ‘the intent’ is too vague a term, especially if something that is not an ‘intent’s could still take place.
Councilwoman Jane Hayes pointed out that Jay currently has a well-functioning water and waste-water system and noted the geology in the north end of the county is completely different than in central and south central Santa Rosa County, citing less drainage issues and problems in the north end of the county.
“I think there’s probably some good intentions but it’s not fully vetted out,” said Hayes.
Owens said he thought the promotion is environmental and a utility conglomerate being able to handle the growth that is predicted to come to the north end of the county.
“It’s the perfect storm for them to try to get it passed,” said Owens. “But it makes zero sense for the utilities to be involved at this point.”
Bell said it is left open to disband all the rural water systems.
“They are giving themselves in this bill all power to set rates, construction,” said Bell.
There was concern that the proposed committee which makes it seem the smaller utilities would have a voice would be allowed for about a year before it went to elected positions.
Owens said that he felt someone from Jay who is representing Jay should have more knowledge and experience of water and sewer to make those decisions.
Bell said no one has visited Jay nor any of the other utilities to talk about the proposal. He said that a meeting with District 3 State Rep. Joel Rudman was planned for Wednesday (yesterday) and Mayor Owens suggested Jay Utilities Manager Eric Seib accompany Bell to that meeting.
“I think it’s important that we get a few people down there in front of Rudman to let him know our stance,” said Owens. “I think Florida Water Management can get behind us if we all agree this is not good, then they have to take the stance because they work for the citizens basically, right? I think that’s an opportunity.”
Councilwoman Hayes made the motion that the town of Jay stand with the other water and sewer systems to be against the bill. Councilman Josh Holloway seconded the motion. It carried unanimously.
