JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 The Jacksonville City Council\u2019s Special Investigatory Committee continues its probe Monday into allegations involving JEA.<\/p>\n
Along with workplace culture concerns<\/a>, they\u2019re looking into whether the utility failed to collect millions in \u201ccapacity\u201d fees that help pay for water and sewer infrastructure over several years.<\/p>\n The committee was formed by City Council President Kevin Carrico after the City of Jacksonville Office of Inspector General requested assistance related to allegations about the capacity fees.<\/p>\n Capacity fees are payments typically charged to certain customers, especially tied to development and large-scale use. Those fees are meant to help support infrastructure like water and electric systems.<\/p>\n As Jacksonville grew fast, some developments expanded far beyond their original plans.\u00a0Now, the concern is that some of those fees might not have been properly collected over time \u2014 potentially adding up to millions of dollars.<\/p>\n Council members have been requesting documents, questioning witnesses, and trying to determine the scope of the problem, where that money went and whether the city can still recover money it was owed.<\/p>\n One councilmember estimated the total could reach as high as $100 million.<\/p>\n Jacksonville City Councilman Michael Boylan, who has worked closely with JEA in the past, said those fees are critical to funding infrastructure.<\/p>\n \u201cCapacity fees are the infrastructure needs necessary for JEA to provide the service they are looking for. It\u2019s a very big ticket and big number as it relates to the Mayo Clinic and the process of what they are doing,\u201d Boylan said. \u201cI think that is going to be resolved at some point in time. I suspect they kind of pushed aside. I wish management had dealt with it at the time. I think they are going to have to deal with it straight up now.\u201d<\/p>\n MORE|Timeline: How \u2018big favor\u2019 texts sparked a JEA board shakeup and allegations about utility leadership<\/a>|Jacksonville City Council president issued subpoena after controversial \u2018big favor\u2019 text sent to JEA board member<\/a><\/p>\n The committee\u2019s first meeting was dominated by a dispute over access to Regina Ross,<\/a> a former JEA lawyer working for the city\u2019s Office of General Counsel. Committee members have said auditors need to speak with Ross to move forward on the capacity-fee review, but the city has raised concerns about attorney-client privilege. <\/p>\n Wilson: \u2018Everybody is scared for their job\u2019<\/p>\n Former JEA Chief of Staff Kurt Wilson<\/a> testified before the committee for nearly an hour at a previous meeting. <\/p>\n