Tonight's City Commission Agenda: Will we Willdan or won't we Willdan?

Sometimes a walk down memory lane can be a fun one and other times it is downright scary.

At the end of the agenda tonight is an item having to do with the electric utility. The City is entering into a contract with a company to determine the "Economic and Financial Value of Electric Utility System". This is a big step going forward in any decision on the future of the Lake Worth electric utility.

The contract will likely be awarded to Willdan. Yes, that Willdan.

Now for the lonely walk down memory lane.

On May 6, 2011, Willdan submitted its "Feasibility Study for Police Services for the City of Lake Worth, Florida". This was the study former city manager Susan Stanton attempted to use to end the PBSO contract with Lake Worth. Stanton, along with then Commissioners JoAnn Golden, Mulvehill and McVoy wanted to re-create their own Lake Worth PD. Mulvehill was Vice-Mayor at the time and had assumed the duties of Mayor after the resignation of Mayor Varela before the end of his term.

In large part due to the immense support from the community, Stanton and that previous commission retreated and quickly backed away from the cliff of jettisoning PBSO and resurrecting Lake Worth's own police force. Our present City commission took control in large part to the failed effort by Stanton, Golden, McVoy as the issue of keeping the sheriff here became the third rail of local politics.

Interestingly, although the Willdan report demonstrated how it was POSSIBLE to re-create the Lake Worth PD even they left clues in their own report urging a cautionary approach. Here are two examples from the Willdan report in 2011:

When Lake Worth Mayor, and present State Senator, Jeff Clemens signed the agreement to enter into police services with PBSO he did so for a reason. The Lake Worth PD was almost completely unable to control the gang problem in the City. Cost is always a concern, of course, however the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Lake Worth is of utmost importance. Then-Mayor Jeff Clemens did the right thing in 2008:

That concludes our little journey down memory lane.

As far as the Willdan consulting firm being tasked with discovering the worth/value of our Lake Worth utility, I trust the members of our Electric Utility Advisory Board and its Chairwoman, Lisa Maxwell. I also trust that the city commission and staff have much more information than I to make an informed and intelligent decision.

In politics though, perception is everything. For many in Lake Worth, when you hear the name "Willdan" it brings back some very frightening memories indeed.