After two years, the public finally got a peek an Escambia County Grand Jury report concerning the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority when the 1st District Court of Appeals issued its opinion on an appeal that has kept the report sealed since July 2018.
Inweekly has since learned the appeal wasn’t filed by the ECUA board but by its former attorney Bradley Odom, who is apparently admonished in the report for being “both unprofessional and unprepared.”
In February 2019, Odom announced at a ECUA board meeting that he would not be renewing his contract with the utility. The same day long-time ECUA executive director, Steve Sorrell, announced his retirement.
ECUA board member Vicki Campbell told Inweekly in a phone interview this morning that she had tried to terminate Odom’s contract in 2017 but lost the vote 1-4.
“I think the Grand Jury was absolutely right in their assessment and right to slap the hand of the board,” said Campbell.  “Everything they suggested has now been done. The new attorney and administrator are doing a great job. The ECUA is working better with all government entities. ”
She added that she hopes the grand jury is released soon.