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M <br />than committed capacity. The State currently requires that when a <br />plant is committed 100 percent, another must be built before <br />further development is allowed, even when the plant has unused <br />capacity. <br />Attorney Vitunac reported that he had discussed this issue <br />with representatives of the Treasure Coast Council of Local <br />Governments (TCCLG) legislative committee and they unanimously <br />agreed that this is a problem in other counties also. These <br />suggestions will be presented at all the four -county meetings of <br />the Legislative Delegation. <br />Attorney Vitunac stated that the State needs to clarify who is <br />responsible for payment of utility connections in mobile home <br />parks. The County has adopted a policy of neutrality, and <br />responsibility for payment has been a matter of contract between <br />landlords and tenants. The current statutes on the subject have <br />resulted in litigation in some instances. <br />Commissioner Scurlock understood that treatment plant capacity <br />guidelines and regulations are administrative in nature rather than <br />legislative, and that DER districts adopt their own rules. <br />Attorney Vitunac responded that when a legislative <br />determination is made, all the rules of the various districts will <br />be required to comply with the new law. <br />Commissioner Scurlock suggested that once the actual flow of <br />a plant reaches 70 percent of capacity, that should trigger the <br />need for expansion of the plant. <br />Attorney Vitunac explained that staff's discussion at the <br />committee meeting was that as long as the County's utility system <br />had a permitted expansion, DER would allow connections higher than <br />70 percent. <br />Commissioner Scurlock advised caution in allowing connections <br />beyond 70 percent of capacity because of the possibility of <br />construction problems. <br />Director Pinto commented that it does not make sense to build <br />another plant when the existing plant is at 70'percent capacity but <br />is not expected to reach 100 percent capacity for 10 years. The <br />procedure should be to get that next phase designed, permitted, and <br />ready to go when needed. Director Pinto pointed out that the <br />County currently has approximately 6,000 permitted units that are <br />not built, and he felt it would be foolish to build capacity beyond <br />that 6,000 units, which represents about 15 years worth of <br />development. <br />OMB Director Joe Baird related that he had an issue that he <br />would like presented to the Legislative Delegation concerning <br />W <br />BOOK 87 Feur l '0 3 <br />1� J <br />