Gainesville City Commission approves $250,000 from GRU reserves to challenge GRU governance bill
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At today’s General Policy Committee meeting, the Gainesville City Commission approved spending up to $250,000 from Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) reserves to pay outside counsel to challenge HB 1645, Rep. Chuck Clemons’ bill that will create a governor-appointed board to govern GRU.
The funds will be used to pay monthly billing invoices for fees and costs related to legal services from outside counsel to provide legal advice “in connection with analyzing and potentially litigating the impact of HB 1645 on the City of Gainesville.”
The commission directed staff in March to seek outside counsel to potentially mitigate the effects of HB 1645. City Attorney Daniel Nee said his office has Akerman on board, and “they are working away as we speak.” Nee said the amount is just a “threshold level that makes sure that we come back to you to keep you apprised, but that is understanding of the complexity and potential expense of the litigation, if it comes to that.”
GRU General Manager Tony Cunningham said GRU does not have the funds available, “so we would use reserves for these funds.” He thought the lawsuit should be a “one-city initiative” with costs shared between General Government and GRU.
Commissioner Bryan Eastman said, “It’s a shame that we have to expend these funds. I don’t feel like we have much of a choice–I feel like our residents spoke very clearly in 2018 when they rejected the previous GRU Authority by 60%. If our residents spoke with a different voice at a different referendum, then I would feel like perhaps we would be listening to the will of the people, and a GRU Authority may be the way forward. But I think our residents spoke very clearly when they rejected this by huge margins not that long ago… I feel like we have a responsibility to our constituents to use these funds to ensure that their voices are heard in regard to this legislation.”
The 2018 referendum would have created an independent governing board for GRU, but unlike HB 1645, the board would have been appointed by the Gainesville City Commission. Only 40% of the votes were in favor of the referendum, but GRU customers outside the city limits did not get to vote on the measure.
Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut made a motion to approve the funding and said that she thought the proper funding source was GRU reserves, specifically the GRU Utility System Reserves Fund.
Mayor Harvey Ward pointed out that the City Commission already directed the City Attorney’s Office to hire outside counsel: “What this does is explain from what bucket we will pay for it.” Ward said it is “not a General Government function… We may not have to do anything more than what we’ve already done, which is engage with outside counsel. This has not become law at this point. The Governor still has the opportunity to listen to the people of Gainesville and Alachua County and veto this bill; that is still an option. And if that happens, we don’t spend this money, any of it… The Governor can save us from having to spend any of this money by vetoing that bill, and I, for one, hope that is the path that our State goes in.”
The vote to approve the funding was unanimous.
These idiots are so power hungry they don’t know when to quit wasting taxpayer money, and fail to realize the same problem is what got them into the boat they’re already in. The only thing that will slow their insanity is lessening the reach of their stupidity.
Well said!
Clemons, Perry, and the Governor – if he signs the bill – are stealing something that they don’t own but which belongs to the City. None of that 3 have ever won an election in the city, nor could they, while the commissioners all have. Of course the City should fight this theft from the citizens who elected them or they wouldn’t be fit for office.
Jazz I don’t give a dam about the city of wokeville I want them to stop GRU from going into the country I should not have to pay a extra fee for my electricity it’s called taxation without representation I would welcome the chance to have clay, Duke, FPL.as much as you love what they are doing you must be a city resident/ voter so please encourage them to stop GRU at wokeville city limits
“Jazz I don’t give a dam about the city of wokeville”…
Indeed, that’s obvious. Nor about the principles of ownership and rights of voters to select those running their property.
No, I live in the county.
One it isn’t being stolen, it is still an asset of the city… I certainly cannot understand what you and your friends do not get, other than not actually comprehending anything you read! And mr smarty pants, the interesting thing is the city is a small child of the state, maybe you can comprehend that part. In other words, the city did something got in trouble and new are being punished.
I’m not sure what you don’t get about the fact that GRU has belonged to the city since it’s beginnings about 100 years ago and that I don’t think most of us want the state taking over our communities and cities and ruling from Tallahassee. If the city is in trouble – GRU’s credit rating is higher than FPL’s – it is up to the city and it’s citizens, through their elected leaders, to take care of it and fill it’s responsibilities, not hostile actors who couldn’t get elected dog catcher there and have their own agenda.
Yet Clemons and Perry were elected by a majority of voters within the districts they represent. If I remember correctly, so did DeSantis. Why do always avoid saying that?
Keep braying.
This was in 2022. https://www.wcjb.com/2022/02/08/gainesville-city-leaders-meet-address-gru-credit-rating-downgrades/
Wow, blah, blah, blah! SSDD: Same S$$t Different Day with you! You forgot your standard line “none of them has ever run a payroll!” I guess the Republican Party lives in your head rent free! What a joke!
The ones stealing are the GNV CC and sad excuse for a Mayor, not just this one, the previous CC and Mayor too! Using taxpayer money for their BS projects such as interpreter hotline, city IDs not recognized outside the GNV City limits, interest group crosswalk themes, and on and on!
The CC and Mayor have no interest in leading the way to prepare for lean times, they just keep throwing fear spears out to the public! They should be preparing to provide the core services they are responsible for; public safety and health, security, infrastructure, parks and recreation. All things that benefit the majority of the city population.
If the commissioners are guilty of the corruption you imply, we should all support their removal and prosecution. In the meantime, it’s the citizens who select them and who should maintain that right. That’s how we do it in democracies.
They’re supposed to represent those who elect them as well. Don’t know if you’ve been keeping count, maybe you can’t count…they aren’t and haven’t been.
Only 3% of city residents voted for the “winners” — not exactly democracy in Gainesville for decades.
Then easy pickings for the opponents of the current commission, right Jeff? Disliking the results of democracy does not lead most Americans to want to abandon it, fortunately, though most here have given up on it and want Napoleon to take over. Don’t know your party affiliation Jeff, if you have one, but we know what the Governor, Clemons, and Perry are. Sad what’s become of supposedly “small government, conservative” Republicans.
Of course they wouldn’t but then again those you proclaim fealty to wouldn’t win a tic tac toe tournament in the rural areas either would they? They won by a majority of the voters in the district they represent. Are you really that much of an idiot to not realize that or are you just so angry you choose not to? Why don’t you tell us what Hanrahan, Poe & Ward have stolen during their tenures?
Go bray in some other field…do it under a tree.
Have another election open it up to all GRU customers not just those in the city
New incoming governing board can just deduct it from that GFT (or whatever fancy new aspirational ‘contribution’ they call it.). City wants to sue, they should pony up, not GRU (and by extension ultimately the customers).
Good job cutting expenses, guys. I’m sure Caruso and Pizzo will be REALLY impressed.
Serving their campaign donor-base as usual. Lawyers and the 3% elitists who also voted for them. Surprise 👹🤡🍦🍦🍦
That GRU cookie jar belongs to the ratepayers NOT the liberal money wasters. Enough is enough. Sell the utility to someone who knows how to run one and stop stealing our $$$ for your spending nonsense.
Sound familiar? “Only 40% of the votes were in favor of the referendum, but GRU customers outside the city limits did not get to vote on the measure.”
That’s typical politics in Alachua County. Some minorities cry foul for the silencing of their voices at times but they’re in favor of it when the masters they obey are giving them scraps to look the other way.
I’m a bit curious, is the city attorney and staff so incompetent they can’t handle a case on their own? Why have a city attorney? Think of the money the city could save if they got rid of their incompetence. He must have went to the same law school Saco went to.
State Rep Hinson proposed an amendment to Clemon’s rubber stamped edict on the floor of the House that would allow county residents to opt out of GRU service. It was voted down on party lines, in a big rush. Ads you may remember, this bill was filed at the last moment and public comment was limited to less than 1 minute each. This was going to pass as a favor to Gainesville’s enemy Clemons without any consideration or deliberation, and it was.
Comments limited…sounds like local leadership.
You really are an imbecile.
Yep Azz Man,that Hinson is a real expert , but we will circle back and remove all the other BS and simply let County Residences that are GRU Tax Slaves a chance opt out and change providers. That would be a real Pucker Up moment for the Leaders of Wokesville.
taxation withOUT representation. . .
Nee already told them that the state is within the law. But he’ll still carry their water filing frivolous lawsuits.
Typical corrupt demonrat city commissioners going against what is best for the people and what is best for their power and their pockets.
City commissioners wasteful spending of our money again.
I think the header says it all… $250K from GRU “reserves”? GRU which is YOU, Is 1.7 billion dollars in DEBT! THERE IS NO RESERVE. They just don’t get it and neither do you JAZZ.
Are you kidding me? The Biomass/GRU Bullies are alllowed to siphon funds that came from GRU ratepayers both City and County to fight a Bill that will bring relief ,stability and financial accountability to GRU for a change? That really should be no surprise. The City Commission has no soul, just an appetite for ill gotten money . They continue to add to the list of why they are being fired and a countersuit should be filed and require all wasted legal funds be repaid by Gainesville ,plus damages to everyone they have abused for decades. This lawsuit ,their own attorney advised against, should cost them Billions not $250,000.00. Let’s run the up the State Flagpole and get their backing.
Interesting that every time the politicians in the city and county don’t like a state law, they either ignore it or sue. They also lose, every time. In this case, it is not even a law yet. BTW, that 40% loss for a utility board? It was because the board was to be selected by the same commission it was to replace, but responsible TO THEM.
Hello???? Listen to my voice, I want this bill to pass!!
“Only 40% of the votes were in favor of the referendum, but GRU customers outside the city limits did not get to vote on the measure.”
I am outside of the city limits.
Piss away more tax payers money to fight a battle you cannot win. I’m sure glad I left Alachua county and G’ville or I’d be broke from paying for their stupid mistakes.
REMOVE THESE PEOPLE FROM OFFICE IMMEDIATELY!
I am with the GRU Manager, if the CC wants a lawyer then the City of Gainesville should be paying the expense. The CC is saying this is being taken from the CC thus the City should be paying this bill.
Is this a Babylon Bee headline? It only shows why we need HB 1645.