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GEAR 19 1986 Boa 63 PAUE975 and that it will be a long time in the future before it is a factor. The Chairman determined that no one else wished to be heard. ON MOTION by Commissioner Lyons, SECONDED by Commissioner Bowman, the Board unanimously closed the public hearing. Commissioner Lyons noted that he has had the analysis made by our staff; he has not heard anything new at this meeting that adds any further facts to the analysis; and as he understands the law on our franchises, it says we are required to give the franchise holder sufficient funds to run his business. Commissioner Bird reiterated that this is the hardest job the Commission has; he has both close relatives and friends who live in Vero Shores; and while he realized that to disregard the facts and deny the increase would make him very popular, unfortu- nately we are playing catch-up here. The county sewer rates, however, are higher than those being requested tonight so he did not feel we are picking on the users of this particular system. Chairman Scurlock again stressed that the power to regulate these rates could be transferred from this Board very easily. It would be much easier to let this all be handled by the Public Service Commission and just blame them, but the Commission, urged on by Commissioner Wodtke who felt local control was important, decided to keep on with this unpleasant task. Commissioner Wodtke stated that as a representative of the district in question, who is up for re-election this year, he will have no problem making a decision that is not a political decision. He pointed out that he must reach a decision based on the law, and the law says we cannot take the utility system and join it with their development system. He emphasized that these rates are a problem that arises now from the past, and also pointed out that the cost of these rate hearings is considerable. 30