There are two types of hearings that make up the Administrative Hearing:  the TECHNICAL HEARING and the SERVICE HEARINGS. 
If you enjoy the legal-ese, CLICK HERE to view the official Notice of Customer Service Hearings. EU recently sent this Notice via USPS.​
If not so much, read on below.

This is the portion of the Administrative Hearing where the attorneys and their witnesses present their arguments to the PSC.  Time has been reserved on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, for more of the technical hearing if needed. The continuation of the technical hearing would start immediately following the service hearing on Wednesday, 2/9.

We are encouraging all stakeholders to attend the technical hearing.  We are aware this will make for a long day in Venice, but we need to show solidarity in opposing this sewer proposal.

The customer service hearings is the opportunity for prospective customers of the Utility to speak to the Commissioners about this application for a wastewater certificate.  There will be two customer service hearings. You can register to speak at either hearing in one of three ways.
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1. You can register using the Commission’s online registration form. 
2. You may register to speak by calling the PSC at 1-850-413-7080 or by emailing speakersignup@psc.state.fl.us. Specify which date you would like to speak. Registration (online, phone or email) is open now. The deadline to pre-register has passed.  
3. However, if you have not registered to speak prior to the service hearing, you may register when you arrive at the venue.

Please note that the order in which persons will speak is based on the order in which they register. 

For legal purposes, speakers at the hearings are considered “witnesses” and will be providing “public testimony”. As such, the Commissioners and others are permitted to ask questions, but we are told this is rare. All who wish to speak should appear promptly at the beginning of the scheduled service hearing since the hearing may be adjourned early if no one is present to testify.

Please send an email to stopprivatesewer@gmail.com to let PIE know if you will be attending and also if you are registering to speak to the Commission. It will help us monitor attendance and encourage more folks to participate.

​If you cannot attend the hearings on 2/8 & 9, 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.

Your email matters!
​If you haven’t had a chance to send in your objection to EU’s private sewer proposal, it’s not too late. Take 10 minutes and answer any of these questions in simple terms.
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 ​1. Do you feel there is a proven need for the service?
2. Did you request sewer service on the Island?
3. Does the lack of information regarding the finances of this project concern you?
4. Does the lack of technical expertise of EU concern you?
5. Are you comfortable with the rates and charges associated with this project?
 
Simply forward your email to the following commissioners. Make sure to identify yourself with your name, address and email. Don’t forget to ask the PSC to deny EU’s application for wastewater service.

EMAIL TO:
Clerk of the Commission clerk@psc.state.fl.us
Commissioner LaRosa: Commissioner.LaRosa@psc.state.fl.us
Commissioner Clark: Commissioner.Clark@psc.state.fl.us
Commissioner Passidomo: Commissioner.Passidomo@psc.state.fl.us

​USE THE SUBJECT LINE:  RE. Docket #20200226-SU

We have not included a form letter template, as we've been advised that these letters should be personalized.  However, if you're stuck, we have lots of extra information that can help. Would you be interested in our list of Potential Impacts to Stakeholders? CLICK HERE.

Thank you for helping us stop this private sewer. And please urge your spouses, partners, friends and neighbors to write as well. Every email counts.

The Chief opened the floor to questions:

1. What do I do in an emergency?  Call 911 immediately. Dispatch needs your correct physical address. Turn on all of the lights in your house to better aid responders in locating the emergency. If someone is available, send them out to the end of the driveway to be visible and to assist responders to your emergency.  You may also notify Security or the Sheriff.
2. What about after-hours emergencies?  The new protocol is that Comms. (Dispatch) will alert the barge directly. There is a barge captain on call 24-7, and the response time is 15 minutes.What if my cell phone is from a different area code?Location identification is not done by cellphone number area code. It is now accomplished using cell phone tower triangulation.
3. Are there any problem locations on the island?  The addressing up at the Resort is still a problem.  Frequently renters don’t know the building name or number for identification.
4. What caused the recent fire at the house in the Resort?  HVAC failed.
5. Does the Fire Department have the code to the Resort main gate?  Yes.
6. What if there is only one egress at the property? You need to find some kind of alternative.
7. What if there is a fire on the beach? (not on a property) Call the Sheriff’s non-emergency #, not the Fire Dept.
8. Are beach accesses labeled? Yes, both within the Resort and down Island. There are 13 easements that are labeled “private” providing access for owners and their guests. There are 3 public easements: 1 each centrally located on Knight Island and Don Pedro Island, and one just south of the Resort gates.
9. Can I choose which hospital I am sent to? Yes and No.  It will depend on your emergency situation and whether it is classified as a “trauma alert”, in which case the FD will make the call.
10. Where does the Medevac land? There are multiple helicopter locations on the island, including at the ferry landing.
11. What about home equipment? Fire extinguisher: Type A, B or C. Use the acronym “P.A.S.S.”. Pull the pin. Aim at the base of the fire. Squeeze the trigger. Sweep from side to side. If you use it, use all of the contents until the cannister is empty. Smoke Alarms: Replace the batteries every year, replace the unit every 10 years.
12. When will the new Station 10 be open? Chief Fair is anticipating completion by mid-January. The driveway was poured on the day of the Q&A.
13. Is there room for shelter at the new firehouse? No.
14. What are the plans for the old station? Chief Fair indicated that the Fire Dept. has no say in what happens to the old firehouse.  Charlotte County classifies the property as “surplus” for sale and make the decision about how to proceed. Our Island Fire & EMS Advisory Committee is working with the CC representative to explore possible plans.

 
Chief Fair discussed extra costs that will impact future tax rates for our MSBU.  These include equipment replacement costs and also increasing the number of firefighters stationed on the Island.  Charlotte County has a 6-month study underway to determine the need for personnel, equipment, and new facilities county-wide. Our ad valorem taxes (General) covers the cost for 1 person/ all shifts and our Fire & EMS taxing unit (MSBU) pays for 1 person/ all shifts.
 
There was discussion of increasing the personnel with the 24/7 coverage. Fire protocol dictates that for every 2 firefighters that enter a building, there must be 2 firefighters that remain out. This protocol can only deviate if life is in danger. We only have 3 firefighters on per shift at this time.  Chief Fair also reminded us that Station 10 personnel are exclusive to the Island. They do not leave to respond to emergencies anywhere else.
 
Finally, the Chief talked about the Red Dot Program, which homeowners can use to indicate the ready availability of emergency information for the responders.  Literature was provided.  Information about the Red Dot program is available at the firehouse.