INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Charlie Wilson said Friday he plans to ask his former Vero Beach City Council colleagues to place on the ballot in November a referendum to sell the Vero Beach power plant.Wilson says he will make his request at the Feb. 2 City Council meeting. Wilson won a council seat last year on a platform of getting Vero Beach to sell the power plant, but then was removed from office when the courts ruled he did not meet city residency requirements. “The Council is currently looking into the possibility that the new contract with Orlando Utilities (Commission) is flawed as I believe it is,” Wilson said. “However, if the past is any guide, the city will be able to sweep this matter under the rug so we need an alternative and that is a binding referendum. The Council has shown that it is unwilling to make the right choice demanded by the public so our only alternative is to take the choice away from them and do it ourselves.”While it is doubtful the city will agree to the request, Wilson says if it is turned down he will continue to seek the sale of the utility.”If the City Council refuses to place the matter on the ballot in November I will form an organization called “Operation Clean Sweep” that will seek to collect enough signatures to require the referendum without a Council vote,” he said.Wilson is a candidate for the District 2 County Commission seat.
