Ray Schwertner, GP&L Director, recommends approval of compromise TMPA agreement.

As described in the press release below, the Council met in a special meeting last night to consider approval of a global compromise agreement. It was unanimously approved by all Council members present. I was the only one not there because I couldn't get back across the Metroplex by the 6 pm starting time, but I would have voted the same. I have since viewed the replay and invite everyone to watch electric utility director Ray Schwertner's presentation explaining the basics of the agreement (Item 1).
 
The agreement itself is relatively simple but it ends years of complex litigation and dysfunction. Even getting to the point of being able to agree was a complex process, involving many meetings and many people.
 
I was disappointed that I was caught in traffic and couldn't be at the meeting because I would like to have expressed my appreciation to all those that helped secure this agreement, including many that were not mentioned by name last night or in today's press release, many at GP&L. However, three individuals did more than anyone else.
 
Doing the most to secure this $200 million benefit for Garland residents and ratepayers was Ray Schwertner. While there were congratulations and self-congratulations extended all around, the one that did the most was mentioned least. Council members past and present, other city employees, consultants, and lawyers have for years failed to make any progress resolving these suits and addressing the operating issues that exposed ratepayers to higher electric costs.
 
As you can witness at the link above, Mr Schwertner was effluent in his recognition of others but dwelled not at all on his own extensive role. He is a gentleman with great class. As assistant city attorney Mike Betz, one of the other two most-important persons in this accomplishment, told me—I'm paraphrasing—Mr Schwertner skillfully guided the parties toward the issues that should have been their primary interest and away from the red herrings and petty personality squabbles that had stalled previous efforts. He stressed making sound business decisions, which I absolutely couldn't agree more. Very few will be able to look between the lines of the public record and witness the real story of how all this was accomplished.
 
The other person that filled the trio was Tom Jefferies, past Council member and the current chairman of the Texas Municipal Power Agency board, serving as one of Garland's two representatives. Mr Jefferies was critical to negotiations because he constantly stayed above the emotions that were often rampant, he represented the fifth essential element of the agreement, TMPA, and, I'm told, he was often the shepherd that kept the players moving in the right direction.
 
Mr Betz has been immersed in the hurricane of litigation for some time, probably understanding the intricacies of the cases better than anyone else involved. He has constantly kept Garland in a favorable position throughout his involvement. When others were about to crack under the strains, Mike always looked like the marathoner ready for another 26 miles. The fact that Garland was represented by Mr Betz and Brad Neighbor, our city attorney, has saved Garland hundreds of thousands of dollars that the other cities were losing, especially Bryan because they were paying, in addition to their own attorney's office, outside counsel and a portion of TMPA's legal costs.
 
Even my singling this individuals out for praise falls short of the tremendous contributions each has given on behalf of the city. They each did much more than I can recount.
 
I presume there is an aire of jubilation in all the TMPA member cities now that the agreement has been ratified in each city. There are major and minor players on behalf of each city that deserve credit for their roles. I want to be sure that the three from Garland that were most instrumental receive a degree of the recognition they are due. I fully recognize that many others also played major roles and many gave tremendous time to the effort. One more individual that I would like to mention is city manager Bill Dollar. Mr Schwertner gave Bill credit for authorizing him to negotiate on behalf of Garland and that is extremely important. Mr Dollar could have any number of times been afraid to take the big steps that were necessary to reach a compromise, he could have resisted authorizing his staff to negotiate, and he could have hampered progress by inserting his ego but he did none of those. He did what a good leader does: he supported his team and gave them permission to win.
 
Like in the Wizard of Oz, those were the real wizards behind the curtain, Dorothy.