4/28/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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r precarious time and liked the idea that Ecotech picked up the liability, because normally, when a contractor blunders, the County has to pay. Director Hubbs advised that he had spoken with Dan Culbert with the local Agricultural Extension Office. He advised that they also have a great deal of expertise in wetland plants and management and have the entire University of Florida resources at their disposal as well. Thus he felt there was quite a bit of expertise within the county now, including the Soil and Water Conservation Service, the Environmental Conservation Board, and the Audubon Society. Commissioner Adams appreciated what he was saying and supported all of the organizations he mentioned, but they would be the first ones to tell him that they cannot commercially run the facility. Director Hubbs responded that he did not mean to suggest they would, just that staff could draw on their expertise. Commissioner Ginn brought out that staff had recently solved a phosphate problem at the wetlands, and Director Hubbs added that it was accomplished with the original manufacturer of the process and in-house expertise. There were some internal flow equalization problems within the wastewater plant, which did not relate directly to the wetlands except that the discharge to the wetland is highly limited as far as nutrient discharge right now. The plant is doing the majority of nutrient removal and removal of other types of pollutants, so, the wetland is a polishing effort and it was intended originally to be a wet - weather -disposal option. During dry periods, most of the effluent is going to the golf courses and other irrigation uses, so the wetland serves a back-seat purpose during dry spells. During extreme wet weather, the wetland serves as primary disposal. The hope is to allow that phosphorous discharge level, which is limited to .5 parts per million, to creep up and perhaps reach .75 or 1.00 parts per million, which is much more realistic from an operation standpoint. Chip Swindell, one of the owners of Ecotech, wished to respond to the question about training. Under the previous agreement, Ecotech stated that they would train the County's staff to whatever level the County desired. They also had agreed in negotiations with former Director Pinto that the 3' or 4' year, they would re -write the O & M manual specific to the County's site. That re -write would basically provide the County with a "cookbook" operational methodology so if the County desired to take over sections or pieces of the monitoring, there would be a much more detailed, written explanation of the procedures. He April 28, 1998 &I 0 40