INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Following up on a motion made in August, the Indian River County Commission Tuesday approved hiring Ballard Partners to lobby for the sale of Vero Electric in Tallahassee on the county’s behalf for a fee of $6,500 per month.
The 12-month, $78,000 agreement calls for Ballard to push the county’s entire legislative agenda, working contacts in the legislature, governor’s office and state agencies, with a main focus on the utility sale issue.
County Administrator Joe Baird and Glenn Heran, a private citizen activist prominent in the effort to achieve a sale of Vero Electric to Florida Power and Light with the aim of lowering consumer utility bills, interviewed several lobbying firms by phone prior to selecting Ballard.
In a proposal letter outlining services the firm will provide, Senior Vice President Joseph McCann touted Ballard’s in-house roster of former legislators and executive branch staffers and its ongoing relationships with serving government officials as a selling point.
“The firm is uniquely qualified to assist the IRRBCC (Indian River County Board of County Commissioners) with its issues because of its longstanding professional relationships with the Florida Legislature, House and Senate Leadership, and respective House and Senate committees,” wrote McCann.
Heran said he believed Ballard has the name recognition and hitting power to help move the county’s agenda in the state capitol.
Ballard will be assisted in its efforts by Stuart lobbying firm McNicholas & Associates. Heran said McNicholas would be a good partner for Ballard because the company is already familiar with many of the specifics of the proposed Vero Electric sale.
The board also approved paying travel expenses for Heran and his associate, Dr. Stephen Faherty, should they go to Tallahassee on the county’s behalf to explain sale details to legislators or staffers.
This action was strongly supported by Baird who said the men are more knowledgeable about the complex $178-million deal than he is and more able to clearly articulate the issues involved.
Prior to the commission’s unanimous vote to hire Ballard, a Florida Power and Light spokesperson gave a deal update, outlining what has been accomplished so far and what remains to be done.
A key point was the claim that sale of Vero Electric to FPL will result in a $23-million annual savings for county ratepayers in Vero Beach, the Shores and unincorporated areas.
The spokesperson said the company hopes to conclude the deal and take over electric supply in the parts of the county it does not already serve sometime in 2014.