Having lunch with outgoing city council member Matt Schellenberg, I asked him what is the major issue facing businesses and residents in Jacksonville today. The term-limited, 8-year councilman, who represented the Mandarin area, is concerned about the rapid degradation of JEA. Concerns include a possible 25% electric rate increase; the agency’s inability to contribute to the city budget; and even the ability of JEA to adjust to energy alternatives and the movement by large manufacturers, such as Anheuser Busch, to generate their own energy sources, leaving the JEA grid completely. He feels those who will face the major brunt of these changes will be poor and lower middle class citizens, in addition to larger energy-user companies. He hopes the current council will do a thorough study to make sure JEA, through any type of charter changes, stays on mission to seek the lowest electric and sewage rates possible. I also asked Matt what accomplishment he is most proud of in his 8 years in office. He said sidewalks and the upgrades and the new interactive parks that have been built for the kids in Mandarin. Matt Schellenberg is on the right in the “lunch with Les” photo.
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