ROFL - how will anyone lower the price when nearly no one knows the new pricing. Funny thing is no one is demanding we do this knowing the $$$. So I'd love to hear that answer!
It's all Wes' bike riding in the neighborhoods and all the stuff he has learned along the way to winning an election. Maybe its his connection to Trump or his hatred for Golden and everyone else in this town. Take a guess. Birds of a feather. Maybe he can win on that Lake Worth is really worthless idea and he will be our savior and have more density.
To the poster of "Utility bills have already been lowered, Mr. Stafford." Even after the paltry 6.7% decrease, after years of paying 25% to 30% higher than FP&L, we will still be in "control" of an out-of-control electric utility run by a group of 5 people (The Mayor and Commissioners)who collectively know very little about generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Not to mention the customer service backlash due to the extremely high rates.
The question should be "How is having our own utility and paying thousands of dollars MORE each year than we would pay if we were FP&L customers a benefit to our residents, businesses and rate payers?"
At one time, our electric utility was a benefit to us with lower rates than surrounding areas AND contributions to our general fund helped keep our taxes down and quality of life up.
Don't tell me, another guy who believes in throwing money into the wind that was given to him by others. He must strongly believe that Wes has what it takes.
Chip, I do not believe that our Utility is run by our Commission. They are elected to set POLICY, not run the city or run our Utility.
I believe the question should be, how are we going to operate our city without the $9-10 million it contributes to operations, the majority of which pays the retirement for those still in the police pension, fire pension and employee pension funds.
The next question should be, why have we not hired an internal auditor as this majority commission harped on for way too long and the citizens have insisted upon even longer. Robert Marksmeier was going to audit the utility as his first focus.
Ask Jim how is going to collect the insurmountable arrears in utility bills that NONE of the former Lake Worth Beach Casino tenants paid! There was only one meter so when they didn't pay their bill they knew the city couldn't cut them off because it would mean cutting off the whole building. This is OUTRAGEOUS and the best commission ever didn't do anything about it. I didn't hear Suzanne Mulvehill list that in her farewell speech or Chris McVoy mention it in his re-election campaign. This debate run by the NAPC is a farce. They pick the questions that are asked. Pick the residents randomly at the debate and let them get up with a microphone and ask their questions so there is no predispositioning by a group that has there own political agenda.
A better question would be, how are we going to collect ALL of the unpaid utility bills at the tune of $7-9 million? Don't know about the casino bills but to suggest that ANY commissioner is responsible for anyone not paying their bill is OUTRAGEOUS and off the wall. Think up another one anonymous.
The solution was to outsource utility customer service. This trio commission voted that down, protecting the unions. Disgusting politics at the expense of Lake Worth.
Your question proves that questions should NOT be asked from the stacked and uninformed political audience, people who go baa, baaa most of the time.
Hopefully and unlike last year, this "debate" will be honest.
Lynn while the NAPC controls the selection of questions for the debate it will never be unbias. Put a podium on the floor of the theater with a microphone and have people draw numbers as they come in then have someone draw and call out the selected number and if that person holding the ticket number has a question then they get up and ask it if they don't move on to the next number. The NAPC will never do it this way because then they don't get a chance to flex their political muscles. It is a joke and that is why after the first debate I attended run by them I have not been back. Didn't blame the commission for tenants not paying their utitility bill but they do bare the burden of blame for NOT doing anything about it! It is disgusting that John G's with as much money that they made with the taxpayers subsidizing their $12/square foot rent on beachfront property that they didn't pay their utility bill. I am proud I never patronized that place.
The tenants had LONG TERM LEASES. What commission do you want to blame? When they were given the leases, rents were much, much lower. How was it John G's fault that they were given $13 per s.f. for rent there and they got to make all the capital improvements to the space, fixing the leaks, fixing the roof, and the building decaying around them. Such a deal.
Too bad you never ate there. Wonderful food that will never be surpassed. You blame them for a long-term lease that was fair at the time and that two parties signed.
On another note-You always seem to blame the wrong person. You always seem to chastise people who don't pay what you consider market rent or their fair share of taxes. It is the system. It is the times.It is what was negotiated. It is what the laws allow.
Don't vote for any of the amendments this November...make sure poor people never get a break on anything and you, as a Democrat, can keep on bitching and complaining that some people aren't paying their fair share and continue to hate them for it. Everything was fair when it was happening or voted upon. Twenty years later, everything is expensive. And under Obama, we have more poor people than ever before.
That's an easy one. They are called "un-collectable" for a reason. Most businesses have them. How far back does that $7 -$9 million go? 2 years? 5 years?
I attended the meeting that you refer to and we were told that, just like we have no business being in the electric utility business, the electric utility had no business being in the customer service business. Especially when you had to have people go out everyday and face a very hostile group of residents who are stuck paying outrageous amounts for deposits and electric rates, disconnection and reconnection fees and a brand new "cost of service" fee.
All this without having any training or back up when dealing with unruly and irate customers.
I did feel a little sorry for Mattey and her inability to handle her employees and went through multiple supervisors who were also unable to get a grip on an unworkable situation.
But you should be asking why is this so hard? Is it because our rates are so high. This depresses our property values and depressed property rents for less than neighboring communities. Who goes for lower rents? People who sometimes can't pay their bills? And the stomach turns.
Yes. Let's outsource customer service. We've outsourced police and fire and grounds maintenance. We kept from outsourcing our water to the county and will now have to pay 50% more for water than it would cost if we had continued with them, not to mention the cost of getting out of the contract we broke.
Speaking of breaking contracts, how about Greater Bay?
Sometimes outsourcing warrants a good look. What's puzzling is the individuals who are against even looking at what an acquisition of the electric utility would look like. The answer to your question of where we would get the cash we currently milk from our cash cow each year to the tune of MILLIONS of DOLLARS would come in the proposal. If it doesn't pan out, we say "no thank you". But what if we can get out of this mess and save each resident hundreds or thousands of dollars each year in electricity charges? Vero Beach has it figured out. And this allows our property values to increase like the surrounding areas? And businesses and families again want to move to our beachfront town with low utilities and taxes?
Maybe the increase in ad velorem would stop the spiraling downward and reverse it.
Challenge what numbers? If my electric is $400 per month and we suddenly starting paying what people across the canal pay for the very same electricity (-25% to 35%) I'm saving $1200 + per year. If you are paying $100 per month and your bill drops 25% tomorrow, you will be saving $300 per year.
Businesses and large electricity users will save even more.
That is what 25% to 35% looks like when I open my wallet.
If my taxes went up for the portion the city of Lake Worth by 25%, I'd pay about $100 more a year.
Isn't that why we voted to get out of FMPA all Requirements which is a 5 year exit and negotiate with another provider to bring down our cost of energy by possibly 25%. Isn't that what we are doing right this minute? Have a better plan?
ROFL - how will anyone lower the price when nearly no one knows the new pricing. Funny thing is no one is demanding we do this knowing the $$$. So I'd love to hear that answer!
ReplyDeleteHis mailer says he will lower utility bills. Utility bills have already been lowered, Mr. Stafford.
ReplyDeleteAsk Stafford why he is paying Wes Blackman $3,000. as a consultant.
ReplyDeleteIt's all Wes' bike riding in the neighborhoods and all the stuff he has learned along the way to winning an election. Maybe its his connection to Trump or his hatred for Golden and everyone else in this town. Take a guess. Birds of a feather. Maybe he can win on that Lake Worth is really worthless idea and he will be our savior and have more density.
ReplyDeleteTo the poster of "Utility bills have already been lowered, Mr. Stafford." Even after the paltry 6.7% decrease, after years of paying 25% to 30% higher than FP&L, we will still be in "control" of an out-of-control electric utility run by a group of 5 people (The Mayor and Commissioners)who collectively know very little about generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Not to mention the customer service backlash due to the extremely high rates.
ReplyDeleteThe question should be "How is having our own utility and paying thousands of dollars MORE each year than we would pay if we were FP&L customers a benefit to our residents, businesses and rate payers?"
At one time, our electric utility was a benefit to us with lower rates than surrounding areas AND contributions to our general fund helped keep our taxes down and quality of life up.
What happened?
Chip Guthrie
Don't tell me, another guy who believes in throwing money into the wind that was given to him by others. He must strongly believe that Wes has what it takes.
ReplyDeleteChip, I do not believe that our Utility is run by our Commission. They are elected to set POLICY, not run the city or run our Utility.
ReplyDeleteI believe the question should be, how are we going to operate our city without the $9-10 million it contributes to operations, the majority of which pays the retirement for those still in the police pension, fire pension and employee pension funds.
The next question should be, why have we not hired an internal auditor as this majority commission harped on for way too long and the citizens have insisted upon even longer. Robert Marksmeier was going to audit the utility as his first focus.
You can see why people do not trust politicians.
Ask Jim how is going to collect the insurmountable arrears in utility bills that NONE of the former Lake Worth Beach Casino tenants paid! There was only one meter so when they didn't pay their bill they knew the city couldn't cut them off because it would mean cutting off the whole building. This is OUTRAGEOUS and the best commission ever didn't do anything about it. I didn't hear Suzanne Mulvehill list that in her farewell speech or Chris McVoy mention it in his re-election campaign. This debate run by the NAPC is a farce. They pick the questions that are asked. Pick the residents randomly at the debate and let them get up with a microphone and ask their questions so there is no predispositioning by a group that has there own political agenda.
ReplyDeleteAgenda--love that.
ReplyDeleteA better question would be, how are we going to collect ALL of the unpaid utility bills at the tune of $7-9 million? Don't know about the casino bills but to suggest that ANY commissioner is responsible for anyone not paying their bill is OUTRAGEOUS and off the wall. Think up another one anonymous.
The solution was to outsource utility customer service. This trio commission voted that down, protecting the unions. Disgusting politics at the expense of Lake Worth.
Your question proves that questions should NOT be asked from the stacked and uninformed political audience, people who go baa, baaa most of the time.
Hopefully and unlike last year, this "debate" will be honest.
Lynn while the NAPC controls the selection of questions for the debate it will never be unbias. Put a podium on the floor of the theater with a microphone and have people draw numbers as they come in then have someone draw and call out the selected number and if that person holding the ticket number has a question then they get up and ask it if they don't move on to the next number. The NAPC will never do it this way because then they don't get a chance to flex their political muscles. It is a joke and that is why after the first debate I attended run by them I have not been back. Didn't blame the commission for tenants not paying their utitility bill but they do bare the burden of blame for NOT doing anything about it! It is disgusting that John G's with as much money that they made with the taxpayers subsidizing their $12/square foot rent on beachfront property that they didn't pay their utility bill. I am proud I never patronized that place.
ReplyDeleteThe tenants had LONG TERM LEASES. What commission do you want to blame? When they were given the leases, rents were much, much lower. How was it John G's fault that they were given $13 per s.f. for rent there and they got to make all the capital improvements to the space, fixing the leaks, fixing the roof, and the building decaying around them. Such a deal.
ReplyDeleteToo bad you never ate there.
Wonderful food that will never be surpassed. You blame them for a long-term lease that was fair at the time and that two parties signed.
On another note-You always seem to blame the wrong person. You always seem to chastise people who don't pay what you consider market rent or their fair share of taxes. It is the system. It is the times.It is what was negotiated. It is what the laws allow.
Don't vote for any of the amendments this November...make sure poor people never get a break on anything and you, as a Democrat, can keep on bitching and complaining that some people aren't paying their fair share and continue to hate them for it. Everything was fair when it was happening or voted upon. Twenty years later, everything is expensive. And under Obama, we have more poor people than ever before.
That's an easy one. They are called "un-collectable" for a reason. Most businesses have them. How far back does that $7 -$9 million go? 2 years? 5 years?
ReplyDeleteI attended the meeting that you refer to and we were told that, just like we have no business being in the electric utility business, the electric utility had no business being in the customer service business. Especially when you had to have people go out everyday and face a very hostile group of residents who are stuck paying outrageous amounts for deposits and electric rates, disconnection and reconnection fees and a brand new "cost of service" fee.
All this without having any training or back up when dealing with unruly and irate customers.
I did feel a little sorry for Mattey and her inability to handle her employees and went through multiple supervisors who were also unable to get a grip on an unworkable situation.
But you should be asking why is this so hard? Is it because our rates are so high. This depresses our property values and depressed property rents for less than neighboring communities. Who goes for lower rents? People who sometimes can't pay their bills? And the stomach turns.
Yes. Let's outsource customer service. We've outsourced police and fire and grounds maintenance. We kept from outsourcing our water to the county and will now have to pay 50% more for water than it would cost if we had continued with them, not to mention the cost of getting out of the contract we broke.
Speaking of breaking contracts, how about Greater Bay?
Sometimes outsourcing warrants a good look. What's puzzling is the individuals who are against even looking at what an acquisition of the electric utility would look like. The answer to your question of where we would get the cash we currently milk from our cash cow each year to the tune of MILLIONS of DOLLARS would come in the proposal. If it doesn't pan out, we say "no thank you". But what if we can get out of this mess and save each resident hundreds or thousands of dollars each year in electricity charges? Vero Beach has it figured out. And this allows our property values to increase like the surrounding areas? And businesses and families again want to move to our beachfront town with low utilities and taxes?
Maybe the increase in ad velorem would stop the spiraling downward and reverse it.
It's not that Mattey couldn't get a grip--the union would not allow her to get a grip.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where you get your numbers from but I challenge them...totally.
Challenge what numbers? If my electric is $400 per month and we suddenly starting paying what people across the canal pay for the very same electricity (-25% to 35%) I'm saving $1200 + per year. If you are paying $100 per month and your bill drops 25% tomorrow, you will be saving $300 per year.
ReplyDeleteBusinesses and large electricity users will save even more.
That is what 25% to 35% looks like when I open my wallet.
If my taxes went up for the portion the city of Lake Worth by 25%, I'd pay about $100 more a year.
This is not Obamanomics.
Isn't that why we voted to get out of FMPA all Requirements which is a 5 year exit and negotiate with another provider to bring down our cost of energy by possibly 25%. Isn't that what we are doing right this minute? Have a better plan?
ReplyDeleteYes! Accept FLP offer to talk about purchasing our cash cow. At least look at what they might offer before turning it down.
ReplyDeletethere never was any FPL offer
ReplyDelete