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In response to Commissioner Bird, Director Pinto estimated <br />that the County already had covered about $130,000 of the cost for <br />this water service and if only the residential owners were <br />assessed, it would drive their cost up substantially and the <br />commercial areas would get a free ride. If the commercial or <br />agricultural property owners were not assessed, the County would <br />have to borrow the money, put in an inflation factor, and when the <br />property is developed in the future, it would end up being much <br />more costly. He also wondered whether the County was willing to <br />carry the cost. <br />Commissioner Bird felt the problem was because there was such <br />a menagerie of property uses and sizes and there. -was such a small <br />percentage of property owners who wanted the water service. He <br />suggested the County run the line and charge a hook-up charge <br />because he felt it was not right for many property owners who would <br />not benefit, yet have to pay, to bring water to under -sized lots. <br />He thought, however, that bringing water to the area would create <br />development. <br />Director Pinto responded that the cost then would have to be <br />picked up through higher utility rates to all customers of the <br />utility system. <br />Environmental Engineer Robert Wiseman raised two points. <br />First, he described how the cost to do this project now is lower <br />than it will ever be, because the price for pipe is slowly going <br />up. Secondly, he advised that rejecting it now doesn't mean that <br />it will not have to be done in the future. He pointed out that <br />several wells in the area have been declared non -potable and he <br />believed that sooner or later the project would have to be done <br />under the Clean Water Act. <br />Director Pinto summed up saying that the cost for this project <br />was less than other projects, the people would be getting the <br />benefit, and the County was picking up a major portion of the total <br />cost. <br />Commissioner Eggert felt the benefit would be there. <br />MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Eggert, SECONDED by <br />Commissioner Tippin, to adopt Resolution No. 95-165 <br />(Resolution III) confirming the special assessments <br />in connection with a water main extension to 45th <br />Street, as recommended by staff. <br />Under discussion, Commissioner Tippin commented that he didn't <br />know why it was so expensive in some areas. Because there is a <br />47 <br />December 19, 1995 NoK 96 pAn 817 <br />