County seeks delay in sewer plant process

The county commission refused to sign off on a well-known Tallahassee attorney as a utility law consultant and asked the applicant, Gene Brown, to delay his proposal to the Public Service Commission.

On May 19, county commissioners instructed County Attorney Michael Shuler to hire an expert on utility law to advise the county on the proposed creation of a central wastewater treatment plant on St. George Island.

At the June 2 meeting, Shuler presented his choice, Brian Armstrong, of Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson PA to the commission and received a resounding thumbs down on the proposal. 

Armstrong is described on his firm's website as a specialist in utility and acquisition/divestiture counseling.  He is best known in the county for his representation of the Lanark Village Water and Sewer District in a prolonged conflict that ultimately resulted in Lanark Village's merger with the Carrabelle Water and Sewer District.

Commissioner Cheryl Sanders said she would not agree to hire Armstrong.  She feared the people of Lanark Village held Armstrong responsible for increased water rates. 

Several commissioners said they were concerned about the number of phone calls and emails concerning Brown's application to the Public Service Commission to build a wastewater treatment plant to service the business district on St. George Island.  Brown is CEO of Water Management Services Inc., which serves the island.

The commission instructed Shuler to write Brown a letter asking him to delay his application for six months to give the county time to research the wastewater issue.

They also instructed Shuler to find another utility consultant that has no connection with Armstrong or his firm.