Mayor Curry: JEA will not pick the bidder nor will they pick the path forward

Mayor Lenny Curry taking oath

Sheriff Mike Williams taking oath

Mayor Lenny Curry

Mayor Lenny Curry

Sheriff Mike Williams

Mayor Lenny Curry's wife, Molly Curry

The Curry family

Mayor Lenny Curry and retiring Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa

Mayor Lenny Curry hugs retiring Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa

Mayor Lenny Curry hugs retiring Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa

Bishop John Guns speaking at the podium

Jacksonville Jaguar, Myles Jack, attended the inaugeration 

Protests outside of the TImes-Union Center before the inaugueration of Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams

Jacksonville, FL — Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is outlining a series of steps he wants the JEA Board to take over the next several weeks, as the debate over JEA’s strategic review reaches a fever pitch.

In a letter to JEA Board members sent on Thursday, Curry said the process of vetting five different pathways and aligning them for simultaneous board consideration has been complicated, and decision-making of this magnitude is not easy.

Despite claims by many City Council Members that JEA’s process has not been transparent, Curry said he is ‘convinced that you have all conducted the process openly and in accordance with the law’.

Curry outlines multiple steps he wants the JEA Board to take as early as next week’s monthly board meeting.  He says the Board should prepare possible scenarios by the end of January for the 19-member Jacksonville City Council to vote on. Curry is also calling for JEA to schedule community meetings in each of the 14 districts represented by City Council, at a minimum.

And he even outlines a sixth possible scenario that would be collapsing and moving the independent authority into a municipal department whose operation and budget would be managed by City Council and the Mayor’s Administration.

“Although, on its face this is a scenario I would be inclined to reject, I believe providing City Council research and legislative changes they can consider is important”, Curry said.

Curry said the City Council can conclude the strategic planning process in conjunction with his staff and JEA personnel as needed, and then ultimately decide whether one option is sent to a ballot or if multiple options are sent to a ballot for voters to consider.

JEA spokesperson Gina Kyle tells WOKV JEA leadership will not comment until a thorough review of the letter has been completed.  WOKV attempted to interview the Mayor but a spokesperson said he is unavailable and wants the letter to speak for itself.

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