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that are the same for all the customers that we serve based on our costs and not charging a pretty <br /> substantial component of our customers rates that are based on someone else's cost of service <br /> entirely, I think is more accurate. <br /> Mr. Falls said let me add to that. After our meeting June 24th your request was that we charge the <br /> Shores rates ... the South Beach residents the same as we charge the Shores and then you qualified <br /> that as County rates. We think that what you wanted was that your customers will be treated as <br /> any other customers in our service territory and as we move toward settling the Service Territory <br /> Agreement we are going to have rates in our service territory that reflect the cost of operating our <br /> system. <br /> Mr. Rob Bolton, Water and Sewer Director,added without any outside surcharges. <br /> Ms. Lawson said without any outside surcharges, exactly. <br /> Mr. Brown said so, I have a couple of big points. My first thing is, I guess what would be <br /> contemplated if we were to reach an agreement here today is the County would agree for the City <br /> to charge City rates in unincorporated areas,essentially right away whenever the rate study is done, <br /> so we'd be agreeing to that, meanwhile I don't know what the Town's reaction is to this. That <br /> may be toenter into litigation,I suspect it probably is, so I'm reluctant to enter into an agreement <br /> that I think will probably be challenged. So this whole idea that our residents would be charged <br /> the same as the Town residents, well you know, let's say for instance we meet an agreement and <br /> the County says sure, we'll do that and then the Town sues the City and the City ends up making <br /> some kind of settlement with the Town and says oh yeah we'll keep charging you the rates that <br /> you wanted during that time period. He said I don't think as we sit here today we have the ability <br /> for the City to commit to being able to charge the Town those rates. The next concern that I have <br /> honestly is entering into an agreement with an entity that has already entered into an agreement <br /> with another municipality that you're just not honoring and so what can make the County know <br /> that whatever agreement we do enter into that the City is going to honor that five(5) years from <br /> now, 10-years from now because it sounds like the City is saying,well that's what we entered into <br /> in 2012 with the Town isn't really working for us anymore so we're unilaterally going to tear it up <br /> and throw it into the garbage and do what we want to do. He asked how do we know that the City <br /> is not going to do that to the County area five(5)years from now or 10-years from now. <br /> Ms. Lawson said I think, it's not that the City, and I'll give this back to the City Manager, that <br /> we're saying it isn't working for us anymore. What we're saying is that, I don't know how we got <br /> here,but we're in a situation where we're constrained to charge a large percentage of our customers <br /> rates,fees,and charges that are based on someone else's utility costs entirely and that is a problem. <br /> That's not proper rate making and you guys run a utility and you know that. I mean you wouldn't <br /> take someone else's rates and fees just because your customers like them better and apply themto <br /> all your. customers. You're rates are supposed to reflect what it costs you to provide service to <br /> your customers. So I don't know how we got here, but we're at a juncture where we don't feel <br /> like we can continue to do that, particularly since, and I know the Resolutions that are in effect, <br /> 3 07/22/21 Conflict Resolution <br />