2008 Woodie Awards
1st MidAmerican consideration OK'ed
Kelli Shaffner - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 10/17/07 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
Several Iowa City city councilors continued the Oct. 2 debate on the proposed extension of the MidAmerican Energy franchise at their Tuesday night's meeting.
Opinions were divided, both on the council and in the audience.
The councilors debated several possibilities, then passed a first consideration to replace language in the proposal. This will allow the councilors and MidAmerican Energy members to go over the specifics of the offer, possibly changing "may terminate" to "may continue," as well as the structure of how the franchise would be renewed.
The motion was passed 6-1, with Councilor Amy Correia the lone dissenting vote.
Mayor Ross Wilburn was quick to point out that, although the first consideration was passed, the topic would have to go through a second and third considerations. The proposal could be denied at each of these points.
If passed with the changes, a future council would have to debate and decide if it wanted to continue with the franchise for the next set of years.
Those against the proposal say the latter option would make a 25-year monopoly easy for MidAmerican.
Councilors would also have to pick renewal process. Currently, two renewal options are available, with varying renewal periods.
Terry Smith, who is running in the upcoming City Council election, spoke on behalf of the MidAmerican "negotiating team," pointing out that section 21 in the agreement stated converting methane gas to electricity would be a new revenue source.
Karen Kubby was one in the audience who spoke for this change in language.
"At least go back to the negotiating table," she said.
Councilor Bob Elliott made it clear that he did not want to spend any more time on the subject, noting that he would support the proposal with or without the changes.
"Almost 30 percent voted against," he said, adding that this was an overwhelming amount for the proposal. "We cannot have gas and electric without a franchise."
Elliott added that they should "get on with it."
E-mail DI reporter Kelli Shaffner at:
kelli-shaffner@uiowa.edu
Opinions were divided, both on the council and in the audience.
The councilors debated several possibilities, then passed a first consideration to replace language in the proposal. This will allow the councilors and MidAmerican Energy members to go over the specifics of the offer, possibly changing "may terminate" to "may continue," as well as the structure of how the franchise would be renewed.
The motion was passed 6-1, with Councilor Amy Correia the lone dissenting vote.
Mayor Ross Wilburn was quick to point out that, although the first consideration was passed, the topic would have to go through a second and third considerations. The proposal could be denied at each of these points.
If passed with the changes, a future council would have to debate and decide if it wanted to continue with the franchise for the next set of years.
Those against the proposal say the latter option would make a 25-year monopoly easy for MidAmerican.
Councilors would also have to pick renewal process. Currently, two renewal options are available, with varying renewal periods.
Terry Smith, who is running in the upcoming City Council election, spoke on behalf of the MidAmerican "negotiating team," pointing out that section 21 in the agreement stated converting methane gas to electricity would be a new revenue source.
Karen Kubby was one in the audience who spoke for this change in language.
"At least go back to the negotiating table," she said.
Councilor Bob Elliott made it clear that he did not want to spend any more time on the subject, noting that he would support the proposal with or without the changes.
"Almost 30 percent voted against," he said, adding that this was an overwhelming amount for the proposal. "We cannot have gas and electric without a franchise."
Elliott added that they should "get on with it."
E-mail DI reporter Kelli Shaffner at:
kelli-shaffner@uiowa.edu
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