By Mary Thurwachter
A poll of Hypoluxo Island property owners by the town of Lantana showed 60 percent favored extending a natural gas line to the island. But not everyone was happy with the result or the voting process.
Many islanders appeared at the March 10 Lantana Town Council meeting to express their concerns. The town, anticipating a big turnout, brought in extra chairs and even set up bleachers outside. The bleachers weren’t necessary, but most seats inside were occupied and individual speakers were asked to limit comments to three minutes.
The town sent letters to all 309 property owners in October asking for a yes or no vote on the issue. By the Feb. 15 deadline, 197 yes votes came in, 11 more than the 186 required for passage.
At a February meeting, several residents who opposed the gas line complained about being “strong-armed” by proponents to change their votes. A look at the town’s spreadsheet with tabulated results revealed that 22 no votes were indeed later changed to yes votes.
How could that happen?
The poll was a straw vote, Mayor Dave Stewart explained. And once the votes arrived at Town Hall they became public record and anyone could look at them. Proponents of the gas line did just that and then went back to some of the no voters to try to get them to change their minds.
Town attorney Max Lohmans said the poll was basically a straw vote to gauge public opinion. The only votes that really mattered, he said, were those from the five council members.
All council members save Malcolm Balfour, a Hypoluxo resident, voted in favor of the gas line extension. Balfour said that he had, as a resident, voted yes, but after talking to some voters who said they didn’t want and couldn’t afford the gas line, he changed his mind for the council vote.
“It just doesn’t seem fair,” he said, that some on a limited budget are having the expense forced on them.
Property owners will owe about $260 annually for 10 years to pay for the line. The estimated construction cost for the line is $534,396. The town agreed to create a special assessment to provide financing of running the lines to the property boundaries. Once in place, Florida Public Utilities will assume ownership, operation and maintenance.
Property owners will pay additional costs to complete the gas line connection to their properties.
If money is coming back to the town from Florida Public Utilities, the annual fee to residents could be reduced after five years.
The drive for natural gas was led by Rod Tennyson and Robert Barfknecht, who put together a team who went door-to-door. They said that natural gas would be a good enhancement to the island, saving residents energy and money.
But at the March 10 meeting, one by one residents got up to speak for or against the gas line. A few wanted to change their vote back to no after having been encouraged to vote yes. But the voting deadline had closed on Feb. 15.
Daniel Hiatt, who said he walks the island regularly and spoke to several residents who opposed the gas line, said he examined the votes and found several irregularities. He said it appeared that “a dead man voted” as did a woman who lived in a foreclosed home. He questioned the validity of several votes and said he was certain he could find more irregularities if given more time.
A widow who said she lived on a fixed income was moved to tears as she told the council she simply couldn’t afford the annual fee.
Tennyson defended the voting and said there were “island angels” poised to help the few residents who could not afford the yearly fees.
Town Manager Deborah Manzo said a few votes were sent to Special District Services for examination. But even if those votes were tossed out, there would still be 60 percent in favor of the gas line.
Stewart, who also lives on the island, said people were “strong-armed.” He said he’ll never use natural gas, but knows that when he wants to sell his property, it’ll be good to have it.
“I’m concerned about the cost and that some residents will never live to see the benefit of it,” he said.
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