Residents share concerns over who should have control over GRU

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - People are split on the issue of who should have control over GRU, and Friday night people who want city leaders to take control kicked off their campaign.

Some people want control of GRU to stay with the authority board, but others want to see control of the utility turned back over to the city. At a "Yes for Local Public Utilities" campaign kickoff event, one resident, Linda Krause, shared that she has read s about the ongoing fight over GRY, but has always wanted control turned back over to the city.

"This is just yet another example of Ron DeSantis trying to take control of everything in our lives, and I believe that while there are definitely issues, the city has our best interest at heart," Krause shared.

"Why would even give it back to the city when they've mismanaged it to the tune of $1.8 billion," said Angela Casteel, a supporter of the authority board.

RELATED: State-appointed GRU board sworn in at Gainesville City Hall

Casteel says once she read about debt she says was caused by city leaders she would never want to see them have control again, and she says the city manager wouldn't know what to do.

The city had control of the utility until last year in October when the first authority board was appointed by the governor. Then following a lawsuit against the utility, members resigned and a new board was sworn in in May.

RELATED: 'We're going to work for the best interest of the city': New GRU Authority Board members are sworn in

"The people you know were not from here. DeSantis placed people on the board sort of against our will, and I'm not happy about it," shared Krause.

TV20 asked Casteel what she's afraid will happen is control of the utility is returned to the city.

"The city will continue to spend too much money, and they will put the utility further in debt," Casteel said.

As of now, the referendum to return control to the city will be on the November ballot, but earlier this week GRU officials started a lawsuit against the city and the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections to try and stop it from making it on the ballot. They say the ballot language is too vague.

RELATED: GRU Authority files complaint against city of Gainesville, elections office