Laserfiche WebLink
BOOK U �.658 <br />Ms. Conant again asked to be recognized and questioned whether <br />the residents could get a grant from the Farmers Home <br />Administration to assist in payment of the assessments. <br />Commissioner Eggert explained that the Farmers Home <br />Administration grants are not available any longer. <br />Ms. Conant stressed that the residents are concerned not only <br />about this assessment but the coming sewer assessment, plus impact <br />fees. The people are afraid of losing their homes. They feel that <br />they cannot afford the assessment; that the water they have is <br />healthy; and that there are many residents on fixed incomes who <br />have children and mortgage payments, as well as senior citizens <br />with no income but social security. <br />Commissioner Bird felt that the concern should be that <br />conditions will certainly deteriorate when there are three times as <br />many homes as now exist. <br />Ms. Conant agreed that government can mandate the water system <br />if the wells are contaminated, but wanted to know why the <br />government doesn't have to help them with the cost. <br />The Chairman asked if anyone else wished to be heard in this <br />matter. There being none, he closed the public hearing. <br />Chairman Macht then inquired if the Board would be willing to <br />obtain independent analyses of the water with representative <br />samplings of County water and Director Pinto advised that the <br />information has already been collected and is available to the <br />Board. He reminded the Board that the quality of the County water <br />far exceeds any private system. <br />MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Eggert, SECONDED by <br />Commissioner Bird, that the Board adopt Resolution <br />95-48 confirming the special assessments in <br />connection with water service to portions of Vero <br />Beach Highlands and providing for special assessment <br />liens to be made of record, as recommended by staff; <br />and that the County Attorney be directed to <br />investigate the requirements of lien foreclosure as <br />they relate to the County's bond requirements. <br />Commissioner Eggert agreed that this is a difficult decision <br />but felt that the response she received from residents was far more <br />positive than negative. <br />Commissioner Bird stressed that difficult decisions made today <br />often are for the benefit of the future. <br />Commissioner Adams felt that we should do an investigation of <br />ways to relieve costs, and Chairman Macht stated that the City of <br />Vero Beach had a policy at one time that, in hardship cases, liens <br />MA-RCH 21, 1995 <br />