7/11/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MOK 17 rnE 291 Chairman Wheeler opened the Public Hearing, and asked if anyone wished to be heard in this matter. There were none. Commissioner Bowman was concerned about the County buying a another rinky dink operation, but Commissioner Scurlock emphasized that no public funds are being used to acquire any of these systems. He pointed out that some of these franchises were approved way back when, whereas current franchises do not allow for this to happen. In fact, the existing franchises that we approve entertain all the acquisition provisions and all the renewal/replacement, and require all those escrow monies to be in place. He wanted to make it clear on -the record that Indian River County does not allow franchises to be issued today to leave all those deficiencies as a possibility. Director Pinto pointed out that we have come a long way in getting rid of these little franchises. We had about 130 facilities at one time, and now we are down to less than 60. In fact, he would recommend that we not issue any more franchises. Commissioner Bird wanted it made clear in the agreement that after we buy the system any expansion of that system that is done to accommodate those other approximately 600 lots will be done at the developer's expense and not at the expense of the County Utility Services Division. Attorney Vitunac advised that it is automatically covered by our standard policy. It will be a county facility, and if somebody wants to add customers to it, they would have to do the line extension themselves. Commissioner Bird asked how it would affect this agreement, if that policy was changed in a year or so, and Attorney Vitunac explained that if a developer wants future connections, he will have to come in with a developer's agreement. It will be a developer connecting.to a county utility, and it will be done in a standard way. Commissioner Scurlock felt that the Commissioners don't want the residents to become upset when they read in the paper that 31