JEA Agreement meeting addresses septic tank, sewer issues

The agenda for Tuesday’s JEA Interlocal Agreement meeting included some tantalizing topics.

Joint operating/cost savings opportunities; JEA Board composition; a semantic discussion of “profits”; pension issues; and the contribution formula, which is the crux of the continuing contretemps between the public utility and the city.

They didn’t really get there. They did, however, get to sewer line expansion.

Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa noted that the administration had met with JEA CEO Paul McElroy regarding “Council’s desires and our desires” regarding service, and noted that he and CFO Mike Weinstein were willing to meet with JEA to develop a plan moving forward on hammering out a “phased approach” to remedying the long-standing issue of failing septic tanks and extending city service.

“The one thing that we did bring to McElroy’s attention this morning is that we don’t start raising the expense side to where contributions begin to dwindle,” Mousa said.

“We are partners; we don’t want to give with one hand, take with another,” Mousa added, describing a “shared responsibility to resolve the sewer expansion matter.”

The ultimate contribution level, Boyer said, determines JEA’s ability to pony up for sewer expansion.

Councilwoman Lori Boyer added that she sees the current contribution level as a “floor,” while Mousa stressed that discussion of funding of sewer line expansion was not related to the contribution level.

Councilman Bill Gulliford cautioned that JEA is likely not going to “give away the farm” in terms of this effort, given its need to reduce debt.

The need could exceed $200 million.

Councilman Reggie Brown floated the possibility of grant dollars, including federal monies, for the septic tank phase out.

Presumably, this topic and related ones will be addressed in future meetings.