PIE's civic action is driven by the PIE Action Committee and is supported by the PIE Action Fund.
THE PIE ACTION COMMITTEE
MERYL SCHAFFER (Co-Chair, Communications)
LINDA COTHERMAN (Co-Chair, Legal)
LINDSAY YATES (Co-Chair, Fundraising)
KELLY LUBE
AMY McCULLY
JONI COLE
CANDY COHEN
DAVID COHEN
AMANDA SMALL
CENTRAL SEWER: The PIE Action Fund is OPEN for DONATIONS!
Dear Island Property Owner,
PIE has been working to ensure that the private for-profit utility company, Environmental Utilities LLC, (EU) will be denied approval from the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to install and operate a central sewer system on our Islands.
For PIE to be able to continue this legal battle, we need all stakeholders on the bridgeless barrier Islands to contribute to the effort by donating to the PIE Action Fund. We are asking you to join us with a substantial contribution.
When this very same action was successfully opposed just two short years ago, more than 200 generous Islanders contributed $122,000. The average donation per household was $597.00. Roughly one-third gave multiple times with 40+ donors contributing $1000 and more. That is what it took to ensure that fairness and common sense prevailed.
To donate to the legal fund, go to DONATE Now! - Palm Island Estates webpage for a simple one-time PayPal transaction. Or you may send a check payable to “P.I.E. Action Fund” to P.I.E., PO Box 3151, Placida FL 33946. Note: a check donation eliminates the PayPal fees charged to PIE.
Working together, we have a powerful, united voice that will be heard by the Public Service Commission. But we can’t do it without your financial support. All donations are welcome. Please donate now.
Thank you in advance,
The PIE Action Committee
Background Information
In October of 2020 Environmental Utilities LLC (EU), began the process of applying for a Certificate of Authorization with the PSC for the proposed sewer system which would serve Little Gasparilla Island (LGI) and Don Pedro/Knight Island. The required notices to the prospective ratepayers went out on December 17, 2020. This notice gave Island homeowners 30 days to comment or object to the EU plan.
In January of 2021 at PIE‘s annual membership meeting a motion was approved for the Board to hire an attorney to fight the granting of the Certificate to EU to extend sewer to the Island.
PIE also moved quickly and sent out a CALL TO ACTION to members asking them to send letters to the PSC to object to the central sewer application. PIE and its members were successful in flooding the PSC with hundreds of objection letters.
PIE then filed objections with the PSC based on the following criteria:
the lack of need for service
the lack of financial capability of the new utility, EU, LLC
the lack of experience for a project of this scope,
the lack of detailed environmental studies of this area.
Finally, in February of 2022 the certification application was adjudicated before the PSC. Our attorney Brad Kelsky, along with Linda Cotherman, PIE and the Office of Public Counsel, prevailed at the Administrative Hearing. The Commissioners denied the application based on a lack of evidence for a need for service in the proposed area, and determined as such that certifying the service area was not in the public interest.