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i <br /> i <br /> F9h <br /> A <br /> County Administrator Jim Chandler explained that in the late 1980s . the County was <br /> responsible for water in North County . In the early 1990s . when the County began pursuing <br /> connections , it was approached by the City expressing a desire to take over all responsibilit-v <br /> for its own utilities . After negotiations , responsibility and authority for water and wastewater <br /> were turned over to the City , which then formed its own Utility Department . A few years <br /> later, the City again approached the County , asking the County to again assume <br /> responsibility for its utilities . Plans were then drawn up to provide overall water service on <br /> a phased basis to the City of Sebastian . That is just a very quick overview of the history of <br /> the project . <br /> Chairman Ginn then explained that the Utility Department is an enterprise fund , <br /> which means that it does not receive funds from any other department in the County , and <br /> must stand on its own . She continued that she chairs the Utilities Advisory Committee and <br /> they hope to again lower rates in the future . That committee has some engineers as members <br /> who are former rate makers . Nothing gets by these gentlemen . Referring to Mr . Beckwith ' s <br /> remarks about the beach renourishment project, she explained that there will never be any <br /> ad valorem tax bills for that project , as it is being funded through the State , - a small portion <br /> of the 10 sales tax, less than 15 % , and the tourist tax . One- third of the cost will be funded <br /> by people who do not even live in Indian River County . <br /> Mr . Beckwith stated that everyone had done a wonderful job answering almost all of <br /> his questions . He now asked how many bids were let for this project and how many <br /> responses there were . <br /> Environmental Engineer Mike Hotchkiss noted that these projects are not bid until <br /> after they are approved , but there were 5 or 6 responses to the bids on Phase III -A . <br /> Mr . Beckwith then questioned what the County would do if only one bid response <br /> were received , and Mr . Hotchkiss stated that the County would have the option to accept the <br /> response or rebid the project . <br /> 8 � G u 7 6 <br /> MARCH 20 , 2001 _ 5 _ <br />