The City Commission discussed GRU’s governance structure earlier this week, but the issue also came up during a County Commission meeting Tuesday afternoon when the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce gave a presentation on its Energy Competitiveness Report.
The report recommends, among other things, establishing an appointed utility authority where two-thirds of its nine members would be appointed by the City Commission and one-third would be appointed by the County Commission. The members could include relevant experts and business community representatives as well as elected city and county officials, according to the chamber’s presentation.
Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Chestnut IV said he doesn’t understand why the city isn’t fighting the GRU governance bill that’s been filed in the state legislature.
“I have not heard today a good reason to change the governance structure. Why would you want to have an appointed board versus an elected board?” he asked.
Taxpayers can hold someone who is elected more accountable than they can someone who is appointed, Chestnut said.
He emphasized he doesn’t have a dog in this fight but said the proposal is a “taking from the city of Gainesville and the ratepayers of Gainesville” in his opinion.
Commissioner Susan Baird was clear in her support of changing GRU’s governance structure. GRU has the highest rates and that should be the overlying reason something needs to be done about this, she said.
Baird also suggested some kind of term limits for board members.