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M <br />Commissioner Scurlock questioned the case of phased projects, <br />where individuals would be allowed to connect as the service <br />becomes available. <br />Mr. Pinto felt that phased projects cause no problem because <br />no matter where they are in an assessment area, as the individuals <br />are notified that service is available, capacity is available, <br />connection service is available, then they would start paying the <br />base facility charge. This is a policy that is applied within an <br />assessment district because after the County begins engineering and <br />construction those residents have no option but to wait until the <br />project is completed. <br />Commissioner Scurlock said there is a window of opportunity <br />for people to prepay an impact fee to beat the increase. He asked <br />if those people who choose to pay their impact fee after we give <br />them notice that the service is available must commence paying the <br />base facility. <br />Director Pinto said their basic facility charge starts when we <br />notify them that they can connect. This is done within an area <br />where the County has taken a project and we assess it because we <br />have removed all their other options and now it is in the hands of <br />the County. However, when someone walks in our door and says they <br />want to reserve capacity in our plant, the base facility charge <br />starts at that point because it is their option how fast those <br />internal lines get built. in front of their home. Mr. Pinto felt <br />that when the County assesses a district and the project is under <br />the contract of the County, all payments of impact fees and base <br />facility charges should not be due until the time that the system <br />is on line. <br />Commissioner Scurlock described some cases where we already <br />extended the special payment plan to them, they come in and reserve <br />their capacity and pay the lower impact fee. He felt those people <br />should pay the base facility. The other people later on will pay <br />a higher impact fee and begin to pay base facility. <br />Director Pinto agreed and stated that is what he would prefer, <br />that would be his recommendation. <br />Discussion ensued regarding availability of plant capacity and <br />availability of main lines. <br />County Attorney Vitunac advised that the County should keep <br />the policy the way it is, which is, when someone reserves capacity <br />he begins to pay the base facility charge. If he makes the <br />financial choice to get a lower impact fee, then he must pay the <br />carrying charges of that capacity, which is the base facility. <br />When we start charging no base facility for one group, we get into <br />the legal question of whether there is really a major difference. <br />27 <br />S F <br />BOOK <br />� <br />