Documents are in the mail for finalizing a contract between Kaua’i County and R.W. Beck, Inc., for $98,860 for an appraisal of Kaua’i Electric. Earlier, the county awarded the huge consulting firm, which has around 20 offices on the mainland
Documents are in the mail for finalizing a contract between Kaua’i County and R.W. Beck, Inc., for $98,860 for an appraisal of Kaua’i Electric.
Earlier, the county awarded the huge consulting firm, which has around 20 offices on the mainland and a technical energy services division, a $10,000 contract to determine the scope of work and cost of the appraisal of KE.
Once the county issues a notice to proceed, R.W. Beck, Inc. has 120 calendar days to complete the work.
The county decided to get its own, unbiased appraisal of the fair market value of KE, after the state Public Utilities Commission failed to approve a $270 million deal for Kaua’i Island Utility Co-op. Among the issues the PUC had with the sale was the high sale price.
Kaua’i Electric, owned by Connecticut-based Citizens Communications Company, has been for sale for nearly two years, after Citizens decided to sell off all its utilities holdings in favor of acquiring telecommunications lines across the country.
Although the county’s appraisal of KE may be a precursor to a condemnation proceeding or other attempted, potentially hostile, acquisition of KE by the county, a Citizens spokeswoman said the company will open its doors and books to Beck officials conducting the appraisal.
“Of course we’re going to be cooperative. We are the most cooperative company that I know of,” said Brigid Smith, assistant vice president of corporate communications for Citizens.
“We’ll be providing any information that’s necessary for the appraisal,” and will do anything needed to make the process move smoothly, she said.
Another contract recently awarded by the county is one for $230,000 to Kaua’i Trees & Palms, Inc., to shred greenwaste piling up at the Kapa’a Transfer Station and Kekaha Sanitary Landfill.
Kaua’i Trees & Palms, in the process of being sold to Kaua’i Nursery & Landscaping, is owned by Doreen L. Sanchez-Rego, whose Doreen L. Sanchez-Rego Contractor, Inc. company defaulted on two other county contracts, most notably the Koloa bypass road project.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
