8/17/1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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r Aug 171993 BOOK 90 FACE 228 -7 Commissioner Eggert asked if staff could put a dollar amount on the immediate needs of the plant itself, and Director Pinto advised that it is minimal as far as continuing to operate the plant to service the existing customers. It probably would take less than $100,000 to expand the plant to service the existing customers. At the present time, they are serving 1039 water customers and 1034 wastewater customers. In order to service the entire franchise area,•we will be required to be funded by future connections. In answer to Chairman Bird's question, Director Pinto explained that the $3 -million purchase will be funded through an impact fee fund for the bonds we sold earlier. However, the revenue for repayment will be raised through the customers of the utility we are purchasing. In other words, there is enough revenue in that system to completely carry the purchase price without any surcharges or additional charges. Commissioner Adams asked how much acreage is involved in this purchase, and Director Pinto advised that there is approximately 15 acres at the wastewater treatment plant and 3 acres at the water plant. The water plant, which is not in use, will be totally abandoned and removed from the site in the future. GDU has been purchasing water from us. Director Pinto recommended that staff be authorized to negotiate a contract with Atlantic -Gulf, which involves the approval of the budget for the operation of this facility. Another very important matter is the opportunity of transfer of their present employees to the County. Their present employees are County residents and we are expecting to give those people the opportunity to continue working subject to the superintendent's interviews and fitting into the County's salary structure. Chairman Bird commended Director Pinto and his staff for all their effort in bringing this about, but he didn't want any misunderstanding that there wont' be any rate increase because there will be a rate increase but it will be lower than what they would have had with GDU. Director Pinto advised that staff will be asking for a rate amendment in the area of the service area where there are lines and people have not connected at this point. GDU has a line extension fee/connection fee to recover costs which is similar to our assessment program; however, private utilities cannot do an assessment program. Staff recommends adopting the rate they are presently carrying for the connection fees to anyone that connects to the County system that is not part of an assessment. In other words, if the lines are put there and you have not been assessed, 36