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According to Commissioner Solari, and pursuant to the Statutes governing hydrants, it is <br />the owner's responsibility to maintain hydrants, and it is the Utility that owns the hydrants; <br />therefore he believed this is a better path forward. Commissioner Solari discussed the difference <br />in charges between the Cities of Fellsmere and Vero Beach for their hydrants, and believed the <br />first step in rectifying the situation is to increase the power of our arguments to the other <br />municipalities to suggest that either (a) they need to have a more reasonable fee or (b) let the <br />County do the maintenance, because it would be more cost effective for us to do. <br />Commissioner Solari remarked that the municipalities have often used Enterprise funds <br />to subsidize their General fund, and that is an important distinction with the County. He believes <br />it serves the County residents better, to look at the utilities as just a service. <br />Chairman Davis asked if it was correct to assume that those funds would then come out <br />of the Utilities Department, in the event we decide to not fund this out of the Emergency <br />Services District. Administrator Baird replied that presently the Emergency Services District <br />pays the utility for hydrant maintenance; and now we are going to absorb it in our utility fund. <br />Chairman Davis agreed that it would be more appropriate for it to be on the utilities side. <br />He asked whether it was the intent that the Enterprise funds of the utilities would cover this; <br />where were we in the discussions we are having with the municipalities; and what is the next <br />step for us to move forward, if we legally can. <br />Attorney Collins said the City of Fellsmere took that check, identified it as partial <br />payment, and put it in their Attorney's Trust Fund with direction that they explore their legal <br />remedies to collect the balance. He said staff subsequently wrote back to them, being under the <br />impression that they were seeking additional information on their updated rates study to address <br />some of the comments made by our staff, but have not received that back. He therefore thinks <br />June 16, 2009 18 <br />