Below you will find materials regarding the proposal from Environmental Utilities LLC to install central sewer on the Island. PIE encourages all stakeholders to be pro-active and keep informed about this important issue.
Educate your neighbors about this important issue and join the PIE Action team. We are looking to expand our volunteer base. Anyone with a vested interest, networking skills and/or a knowledge background is encouraged to come on board.
PIE vs. EU 2024
A brief history lesson: It all began back in 2002. Jack Boyer, along with the late Dean Beckstead (operator of Palm Island Resort’s wastewater utility) and his brother Gar Beckstead proposed a central sewer system for the island. PIE established opposition to the application by signing on as an intervenor. But the case never went to an Administrative Hearing. When asked to present their personal financials to support the application, the principals of the utility company withdrew.
Fast forward to 2020. Jack Boyer applied on his own with his LLC, Environmental Utilities. His application for certification of the service area inclusive of our Islands was met with over 1,000 emails from people who were opposed. More than 100 people went to the Administrative Hearing and 50 Islanders spoke against it.
With the help of the PIE Action Committee in organizing opposition and fundraising efforts, the Public Service Commission denied the application. In 2020, Jack presented no letters of request for sewer service and only a smattering of support letters. He provided no evidence that septic was polluting our waterways or damaging our environment.
No evidence of public health or safety issues from using on-site septic systems were presented or found. The Charlotte County Board of Commissioners did award Jack with a bulk water agreement to process wastewater once it was piped off the Island.
In 2020, the cost to fight this was around $120,000.00. It was estimated that EU spent over $200,000.00 in combined engineering, legal and application fees.
Now we will fight it again. EU has filed a new application with the Florida Public Service Commission to have another bite at the apple. With your help, we can prevent the certification of the service area which includes our Island.
Other Resources
More information is available at the PSC website Docket # D20240032: