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FrI BOOK 113 PAGE LS BACKGROUND On January 24, 1995, the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners approved Resolutions I (95-17) and 11 (95-18), which contained the preliminary assessment roll for Dixie Heights (above described area) and a portion of Vero Lake Estates. At the public hearing on February 21, 1995, the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners directed staff to delete the Vero Lake Estates portion of the project and consider the above-mentioned Dixie Heights area separately. Staff was instructed to recalculate the estimated costs, and bring the item back to the Board of County Commissioners to make a determination regarding proceeding with the proposed project and scheduling a public hearing (see attached copy of Minutes -Exhibit 1-a). On August 26,1998, the project was reviewed with the Utilities Advisory Committee; the Committee proposed a more friendly approach, involving educational brochures and a public relations project A plan was developed which received the support of the Committee at their November 5, 1998 meeting. On January 7, 1999, a public relations program began. ( Memo of January 21, 1999 Exhibit 5). Two informational meetings were held on Jan 18 & 19, 1999 with approximately 29 attending, with 3 opposing and 26 in favor of County water. An overwhelming majority of attendees urged the county to expedite the project The level of support regarding the project is best seen in exhibits 8, 9 and 12. On February 22, 2000, the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners approved authorization for inhouse design of the proposed project and proceeding with the assessment process. (Exhibit 1-b) ANALYSIS Staff has estimated the portion of the project cost to be assessed at $1.379.997.35 (Rounded -to $ 1.38 million for estimation in Exhibit 3) including construction, engineering, inspection and administrative expenses. The estimated cost to be assessed is0.2$ 60709 per square foot (Rounded). A non assessed Master Planned Transmission Main is to be constructed with this project for an estimated cost of $570,000.00.(Rounded) This brings the total estimated project costs to $1,950,000.00.(Rounded) As with all such projects, the ultimate cost will be regulated by the degree of competition at the bidding of the project. Of the 723 lots and non -platted parcels, there are approximately 392 existing homes and 331 vacant lots. The attached letter from Michael J. Galanis, Environmental Health Director (Exhibit 10), lists the Dixie Heights / Dixie Gardens Developments as the next priority for making County Drinking water available based on the existing density, the poor groundwater quality, and the close proximity of wells and septic tanks. Ninety-six and one half percent (96.5%) of the properties ate "undersized" according to Indian River County's Comprehensive Plan and the County Public Health Unit, Division of Environmental Health, which require that lots utilizing well and septic systems be a minimum of one-half acre. If served by a public water system, the lot may be reduced to one-quarter acre in size. Lots not meeting these minimum standards are called "undersized lots."(Exhibit 11) Typical lots sized in the proposed project are 50 x 100 feet or 5,000 square feet (0.11 acre). Staff is proposing modified assessments for several non -platted residential home sites, which appear unlikely for division or further development (Exhibits 6 & 7). The 150& rule has been applied to "equalize" the assessment, for these larger single family homesites. Indian River County's Comprehensive Plan states, "The County's water system shall be expanded to supply the potable water needs of the eastern half of the County during the period 1986-2005."(Exhibit 11) The attached map displays the area to benefit from the assessment project (Exhibit 2). The project will generally serve the following described areas: �SUBDMSION� -�+L'OTS� ��ID.'S;�'�FIOMES47.�:OCA7�O1�F.FA Dixie Gardens 58 55 50 7 Place SW, Lane SW and 3 Court SW, west of Old Dixie, 7* Lane SW to 6d Ave SW Dixie Heights 640 526 329 111 Lane SW to 17 St SW & Ave SW to 5 SUBDIVISION"i ' `LATS;; .ID'SHOMESri I:OON.0 Nil Piney Oaks 6 6 2 West of 4 Ave SW, 16 to 17 St' Avenue SW Non -Platted 19 19 11 Various -thio out project area Parcels :Totals •72Xo 606 - J °392". APRIL 189 2000 -66-