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December 19-25, 2019
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JACKSONVILLE
Record & Observer
JEA: WHAT’S NEXT Record & Observer JACKSONVILLE
The JEA board says it will attempt to rebuild public trust, wait until theJACKSONVILLE end of January for its next decision on the future of the utility.
Record & Observer
BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
TRecord & Observer
he next step in the possible sale of Jacksonville’s cityowned utility is on hold until the end of January. The JEA board tabled a decision Dec. 17 on how to proceed with its ongoing invitation to negotiate. The board instructed JEA interim CEO Melissa Dykes to review the yearlong strategic planning process and complete JEA staff’s research on the five scenarios being considered to restructure the utility. The move was characterized by board members as an attempt to restore public trust in the process that JEA ratepayers and the City Council have criticized for a lack of transparency. In her opening statement at a news conference after the board meeting, board Chair April Green apologized to JEA employees and the public. “Transparency is key for us going forward,” Green said. “We will try to expedite the transparency with the current strategic process and we’ll continue to push for that. But it looks like the end is near and everything will be revealed.” One option includes moving forward with negotiations with nine private companies to sell the utility. A sale would require approval by Council and a voter referendum.
JACKSONVILLE
SEE JEA, PAGE 8
Photo by WJXT TV-4
JEA board Chair April Green, left, and Interim Managing Director and CEO Melissa Dykes talk to reporters Dec. 17 after the board voted to fire former CEO Aaron Zahn without cause.
State Attorney ‘looking into matters involving JEA’ The Jacksonville Civic Council calls for a grand jury investigation into potential sales of utility.
BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office said it is “looking into matters involving JEA” after multiple calls from Jacksonville officials and organizations since Nov. 30 for an investigation into the public utility’s push to privatize. “We have heard the concerns of the community over the past several months. This office is — and has been — looking
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into matters involving JEA. We will not be commenting further,” Nelson said Dec. 18 in a written statement. Nelson’s announcement comes one day after the Jacksonville Civic Council sent a letter to her office requesting she convene a grand jury investigation into the potential sale of JEA and the city officials, employees and lobbyists involved. The Civic Council’s Executive ComSEE CIVIC COUNCIL, PAGE 8
Photo by WJXT TV-4
Former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn was fired Dec. 17.
THE SAILER REPORT
Review sought for St. Johns active adult community Plus: Apartments in works for RiverTown. PAGE 6 VOLUME 2, NO. 29 • ONE SECTION