6/13/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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JUN 13 1989 BOOK .77 F,,u IS Commissioner Bowman brought up the fact that there are some wells that they can't cap but that are supposed to have valves and they don't, and she doesn't see any enforcement at all. Also, it says they are going to identify these, and she wanted to know who is going to identify them. Commissioner Scurlock believed St. Johns has provided a map which identifies over 22 leaking wells on the North Barrier Island. It seems they have identified more than they have funds to cap. Community Development Director Keating informed the Board that St. Johns met with them sometime ago, as well as with Environmental Health, Public Works, etc., and the District indicated they know where there are a lot of such wells. He noted that the $30,000 set out here may not be used this year; it depends on what is identified, the priorities, etc. Some of the northern counties are participating with them this year, and for some years, they have had a cost sharing program with individuals, but there doesn't seem to be much incentive for an individual to pay half the cost of plugging a well since it usually is not affecting him adversely. Commissioner Bowman inquired about the cost of plugging a well, which is different than capping, and Commissioner Bird noted that he had heard the cost would be about $1,500 for a 4" flow well. Commissioner Scurlock asked about the responsibility of the private property owner himself to plug a free flowing well, and Director Keating did not think we have any specific prohibition against this right now. Commissioner Scurlock wanted to know if, for instance, we identify that a well is contaminating our ground water, why we do not have the ability to go to the property owner, as they do in Code Enforcement for different violations, and say that he is responsible. 18 M L