The Administrative Hearing for EU's central sewer application will take place over two days, January 28th and 29th, 2025 with a spillover day reserved on January 30th.

There are two parts to the Hearing: 1) The Technical Hearing and 2) The Customer Service Hearings. ​

This is the courtroom drama portion of the hearing. WE NEED YOU HERE TO SHOW THE COMMISSION HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO US. And if you attend the technical hearing, you might hear testimony that will affect what you say when you speak.

The participants are:
​1. The Parties of Record.

• Environmental Utilities, LLC (attorney: Martin Friedman, Esq.)
• PIE (attorney: Brad Kelsky, Esq.)
• Linda Cotherman (pro se intervenor)
• Little Gasparilla Island Preservation Alliance (attorneys: Robert Volpe and Valerie Hogencamp, Esquires)

2. The PSC Legal Staff (Jennifer Crawford, Daniel Dose and Major Thompson, Esquires)
3. The Commissioners (Commissioner LaRosa, Commissioner Passidomo, Commissioner Graham)

Each of the parties of record will be giving a brief opening statement.  Then each side will present their witnesses. Each of the witnesses will have to summarize their direct testimony in 3 minutes. After the summary, they will be subject to cross-examination. Witnesses in support of the application will testify first. The opposition will follow.

In this procedure, "friendly" cross-examination will not be allowed.  For example, PIE, Linda Cotherman and LGIPA’s attorneys may only question the witnesses from EU and the attorneys for EU may only question the witnesses from PIE, LGIPA and Linda Cotherman. 

Following the direct testimony and cross-examination, EU’s witnesses will present their rebuttal testimony. The opposition to gets to question these witnesses again about their rebuttal testimony.

​If you want to dig in the tall weeds, you can read the official “Pre-Hearing Order”. This contains all of the information about how the Technical Hearing will proceed.  TIP: Scroll down to page 6 Part VIII “Issues and Positions”. Here you can read the 14 issues identified by the PSC related to the application, the position on each issue taken by each of the parties and which witness will provide testimony on that issue. It’s an interesting read.

​If you absolutely cannot attend the hearings on 1/28-30, you can watch or listen to the proceedings on the live video broadcast the day of the hearings. Go to the Commission website at www.FloridaPSC.com. Look for the “Watch Live Broadcast” icon on the left side of the webpage. An audio only option is available by dialing 850-413-7999. The archived video will also be available after the hearings.

​The 2025 PIE New Year's Day Golf Cart Parade rolled into the new year with creativity, fun, and island spirit! On January 1st, Palm Island came alive with vibrant decorations, imaginative themes, and the cheers of enthusiastic spectators lining N. Gulf.

Our judging panel had their work cut out for them as they admired an array of inventive entries. From bicycles and dinosaurs to a buoy-covered golf cart and a gingerbread house on wheels, the competition was fierce. One standout even featured a red sleigh with a towering 6-foot-tall tropical Santa Claus, spreading holiday cheer with a beachy twist.

The crowd's excitement echoed across the island as families, friends, and furry companions gathered to watch. Some waved from their front yards and decks, while others parked along the parade route in their own decorated golf carts, adding to the festive atmosphere.

​The New Year's Day Parade has become a cherished tradition, bringing together multiple generations to celebrate community, creativity, and island life. Thank you to everyone who participated, cheered, and made this year's parade an unforgettable start to 2025. We can't wait to see what next year brings!