LIHUE >> The Kauai County Council gave thorough tongue-lashings to Mayor Maryanne Kusaka's chief aide and the attorney she hired to oppose the sale of Kauai Electric. Administration blasted
over Kauai utility saleBut the County Council still has
not taken a position on the dealBy Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.comBut, as they have many times over the past year, when it came down to backing the mayor or opposing her on the issue, the Council decided instead on Thursday night to conduct a workshop next week to study it more.
Two years ago, the state Public Utilities Commission rejected a proposal from a group of Kauai businessmen called the Kauai Island Utility Co-op to buy the power company from Citizens Communications Corp., which has owned it since 1968. The PUC said the $270 million price was too high.
Now, the same group is back before the PUC with a $215 million deal. Kusaka is opposed to it and wants the county to buy the electric company. The Council has been unable to make a decision for months.
That did not stop Council members from sharply criticizing mayoral aide Wally Rezentes Sr. and attorney William Milks for missing a July 11 meeting of the intervenors in the case on Oahu.
At that meeting, both the state consumer advocate and the U.S. Navy -- who were strongly opposed to the sale two years ago -- endorsed the new proposal.
The meeting began July 10 as a "technical session" at which all sides exchanged information. It was adjourned until the next morning when it turned into a settlement discussion.
Milks already had been scheduled to be in Lihue for a taping of "The Mayor's Chat Show," Kusaka's weekly cable-TV interview show.
Rezentes had agreed to attend the July 11 meeting, but at the last minute changed his mind and flew back to Kauai. The only explanation he offered the Council on Thursday was, "Something came up."
But he defended Milks' leaving.
"The mayor's program was the only way we had to educate the public on the issue," he said.
The parties in the case attempted to reach Milks at his Oahu office, but he was on Kauai and went to Maui for a three-day weekend. He told the Council he did not get the messages until the next Monday.
Council Chairman Ron Kouchi told Milks the mayor's show is "a political propaganda piece" and he used "very poor judgment in leaving an important meeting to tape it.
"We had the opportunity to be there. Our representatives chose not to be there," Kouchi said.
Kouchi's frustration was echoed by most of the council members.
"It seems you should have been there," said Daryl Kaneshiro.
The PUC is expected to act on the sale by the end of September.
Kauai County
