4/21/1987 - Laserfiche WebLink

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APR 2 11987 BOOK 148 BENT PtNE APPEAL WITH DER RE GtFFORD SEWER PLANT EXPANSION Director Pinto reviewed the following memo: TO: BOARD OF COUNTY COMS NERS DATE: APRIL 20, 1987 THRU: TERRANCE G. PINTO/ DIRECTOR OF UTIL S RVICES FROM: ERNESTINE W. WILLIAMS MANAGER OF PROJECT AD INISTRATION DIVISION OF UTILITY SERVICES SUBJECT: GIFFORD SEWER PROJECT ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING - BENT PINE UTILITIES COMPANY BACKGROUND Bent Pine Utilities Company is protesting the issuance of the permit for the Gifford Sewer Project. They have filed an objection with the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation to their issuance of a permit which will provide for -Indian River County to dispose of highly .treated effluent by spray irrigation. Therefore, it may be necessary for us to retain experts and legal defense to appear at the administrative hearing. RECOMMENDATION The staff of the Division of Utility Services requests authorization from the Board of County Commissioners to retain the necessary experts to present our case. Director Pinto explained that the DER through their normal procedure had issued a letter of intent to issue us the permit for construction of the Gifford wastewater treatment plant. Bent Pine Utility Company has protested the issuance of that permit based on their objection to our plans to dispose of treated effluent by spray irrigation which they feel will adversely affect the quality of water from their wells and has asked for an administrative hearing. Bent Pine has not approached us at all to ask any questions re mitigating the situation but simply filed a complaint which could delay the project six months easily. We do not really think there are any good grounds for this protest, but we have to take a position and hire the experts we need as this could cripple that entire project and result in making.it much more expensive. Chairman Scurlock asked if we haven't offered to hold them harmless from any possible negative impact to their wellfields, 34