VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach City Council tonight will discuss adding teeth to its Utility Commission by converting it into a Utility Authority. The Authority’s members would consist of two residents of unicorporated Indian River County who are Vero utilities customers, among others.
The Authority would have the power to set and change utility rates after holding public hearings, according to city records. The council will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. at City Hall and is expected to approve the Authority. The Utility Authority would be responsible for decisions relating to electric, water, wastewater and re-use water, which is provided to customers in Vero Beach, Indian River Shores and portions of Indian River County.
One of the reasons for revamping the Utility Commission is to better ensure representation of Indian River Shores and unincorporated Indian River County, according to the proposed ordinance.
How much autonomy the Utility Authority would actually have remains to be seen. Though the Authority would be given the power to determine the rates, fees and charges for all utilities customers, the Vero Beach City Council would still have the ability to modify, approve or overrule the Authority’s decisions.
The Authority is required to provide to the council its decisions in writing, where the members of council can then “endorse, amend, reject or take no action” on the decisions, the ordinance reads.
The Vero Beach City Council would also retain the ability to amend or repeal any of the previously approved Authority ruling at any time.
