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N ovember 2013 MM # 1351 SANITARY SEWER FEASIBILITY STUDY & REPORT NORTH SEBASTIAN AREA P ROJECT FINANCING Public acceptance of this project is paramount to its success. The public users must be satisfied that the Indian River County Utilities Department has explored various financial alternatives as well as determining the design and project cost considerations of the alternatives. Public acceptance of the project can be expected if the users accept the facts as follows: the project is needed the best alternative is selected in order to execute the project; and the selected financial plan result in the u sers' acceptance of their share of the project's cost. This sanitary sewer project is a project which not only benefits the local users but also benefits the community at large due to environmental and economic considerations. The environmental benefits to the Indian River Lagoon by virtue of the elimination of pollution from septic disposal systems are unquestioned. The Indian River Lagoon is probably the main reason that most of us live in this area and it has a major impact on all of us with respect to quality of life and our public economy. This sanitary sewer project also has a direct impact on the economic development of commercial properties along the east side of US #1 as well as the riverfront area of the City of Sebastian. Centralized sewers and the elimination of the need of septic disposal systems will facilitate commercial development in these areas which in turn will create additional employment and economic activity. These environmental and economic factors will serve to make this project very attractive for securing financial grants from state and federal agencies to construct the project. This Feasibility Study and Report will be a major document for use in the process of preparing financial grant applications. Due to the high estimated cost per ERU, grant funding will be essential to the success of this project. In addition to grant funds, project financing will also be required by Indian River County Utilities D epartment either by financial assessments against users benefitting by the project or by the • County Utilities Department securing project financing or some combination of assessments and County funding. This project, if undertaken, will have a substantial benefit to the County from an environmental and e conomic development standpoint. Therefore, some County contribution to the cost of improvements can be justified. If sufficient grant funds are secured, a combination of County funding and project assessments could be developed to facilitate public acceptance of the project. 22