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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/14/1973AUG 141973 TUESDAY', AUGUST 14, 1973 THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA MET IN SPECIAL SESSION AT THE COURTHOUSE, VERO BEACH, FLORIDA ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1973 AT 7:20 O'CLOCK P.M. PRESENT WERE ALMA LEE LOY, CHAIRMAN; EDWARD J. MASSEY, VICE CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONER SIEBERT. COMMISSIONER BOGOSIAN AND COMMISSIONER DRITENBAS WERE DETAINED. ALSO PRESENT;.WERE JACK G. .JENNINGS, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR; Pain D. BURCH ATTORNEY TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS; L. S. THOMAS, _DEPUTY CLERK. fTHE CHAIRMAN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. ALSO PRESENT WERE GEORGE .J. SPANK, .JAMES BEINDORF, DR. DAVID +SMITH., ,R .JIM BEINDORF DISCUSSED THE AREAS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ENGINEERING REPORT. HE LEFT WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF REGIONS 1, 2 AND.3 FOR BOTH WATER AND SEWER PROGRAMS, COMMISSIONER BOGOSIAN ENTERED THE MEETING AT 7:25 O'CLOCK P.M. MR. BEINDORF THEN DISCUSSED IN DETAIL, HOW THE VARIOUS ASSESSMENTS FOR BOTH WATER AND SEWER WERE ARRIVED AT. COMMISSIONER MASSEY ASKED. "ARE WE LOOKING AT 20 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF SEWER AND WATER ON THESE MAPS?"•'�Z% MR. BEINDORF REPLIED, "YES". COMMISSIONER SIEBERT ASKED, "ARE THE FIGURES ON PAGE 108 OF THE REPORT CORRECT, THAT IS, WILL THE SEWER ASSESSMENT TOTAL $706,000.00 AND THE WATER ASSESSMENT $548.000.00." HE THEN ASKED J F THE TRANSMISSION LINES WERE INCLUDED IN THESE FIGURES. MR. BEINDORF REPLIED THAT THEY WERE NOT - ONLY THE GRAVITY LINES. COMMISSIONER MASSEY, ASKED. "DOES THIS INCLUDE THE PURCHASE OF RIGHTS-OF-WAY?" goon 17 PAA38 e 9 6 MR. BEINDORF STATED THAT ACCORDING TO THEIR MAPS, ALL THE RIGHT-OF-WAYS WERE ON PRESENT STATE OR COUNTY RIGHTS-OF-WAY. ATTORNEY BURCH STATED THAT THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE SUCH A RIGHT-OF-WAY. MR. BEINDORF ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A FEW. ATTORNEY BURCH AGREED THERE WOULD NOT BE TOO MANY. ATTORNEY BURCH ASKED, "DO YOU HAVE A MATHEMATICAL FORMULA TO PUBLISH IN THE NEWSPAPER, SO THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL COULD DETERMINE HIS ASSESSMENT AND HOOK-UPS, AS WELL AS INSTALLATION COSTS?" MR. BEINDORF REPLIED, "WE CAN FURNISH'IT." HE THEN GAVE A TYPICAL COST BREAKDOWN FOR A LOT WITH A 100 FOOT FRONTAGE. SEWER ASSESSMENT $847.00. MATER ASSESSMENT 288.00 WATER HOOK-UP H6SESSMENT 200.0.0 SEWER HOOK-UP ASSESSMENT 200.00 SEWPR HOOK-UP LUMBER (ESTIMATE) 225.00 WAT R HOOK-UP LUMBER (ESTIMATE) 90.00 COMMISSIONER MASSEY ASKED, "WOULD IT BE MANDATORY TO AUG .14 Wj NOOK -UP?" MR. BEINDORF THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE, DR. SMITH ADDED THAT THE STATE MAKES IT MANDATORY. CHAIRMAN LOY ASKED, "DO WE HAVE ANY LARGE GROVES THAT ARE INVOLVED?" MR. BEINDORF REPLIED, "YES - NORTH OF WABASSO WILL BE THE LARGEST GROVES INVOLVED WITH SOME SMALLER GROVES SOUTH OF WABASSO." HE FURTHER STATED THAT IN REGION NO. 2 THERE WOULD BE VERY LITTLE OF THIS INVOLVED. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THIS WOULD OCCUR ONLY WHEN THE GRAVITY LINES WERE PUT IN AND NOT ON THE TRANSMISSION LINES; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD BE ASSESSED ON WATER LINES, MR. BEINDORF THEN REVIEWED THE ESTIMATED MONTHLY WATER AND SEWER CHARGES, ATTORNEY BURCH THEN EXPLAINED THE MANNER BY WHICH INDIVIDUALS COULD FINANCE THE ASSESSMENT HOOK-UP AND INSTALLATION COSTS. -2- ooK 17 PACE= .f 1 COMMISSIONER SIEBERT STATED THAT HE SHARED SOME OF a COMMISSIONER MASSEY'S CONCERN ABOUT THIS COST. ATTORNEY BURCH ASKED, "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO-WITH-THE i GROWING POPULATION?" COMMISSIONER BOGOSIAN STATED, 'THERE ARE GOING TO BE MANY PROBLEMS, I AM SURE. MANY LOW INCOME PEOPLE DO OWN PROPERTY AND SOME EXCEPTIONS MAY HAVE TO BE MADE." COMMISSIONER SIEBERT ASKED, "WHAT EXCEPTIONS ARE YOU i GOING TO M AKE?" ATTORNEY BURCH STATED THAT YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT EXCEPTIONS. I` DR.. SMITH WAS THEN ASKED HOW THIS HAD BEEN HANDLED IN OTHER CASES, DR. SMITH REPLIED THAT GENERALLY EXTREME HARDSHIP CASES ARE HEARD BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND IN,SOME CASES THEY DO GIVE j ASSISTANCE, DR. SMITH ALSO CALLED TO THE COMMISSIONERS' ATTENTION THAT THE LAYOUTS ARE BASED ON PRELIMINARY DESIGNS AND CAN BE CHANGED; MR. BEINDORF THEN STATED THAT THE THIRD AND LAST ITEM NEEDED TO BE DISCUSSED WAS THE PUBLIC RELATIONS ASPECT OF THE PROJECT, DR. SMITH THEN DISCUSSED THE LETTER WHICH THE COMMISSIONERS HAD RECEIVED FROM THE FARMER'S HOME ADMINISTRATION RELATIVE TO PRO— CEEDING WITH THE PROJECT, HE STATED THAT ON .JULY 31, 1973, MR, GREEN AND MR. WEATHERS OF THE F.H.A. HAD ASKED THEM TO COME IN AND DISCUSS i THE PROJECT, SIMPLY STATED THE F.H.A. HAS APPROVED A VERY FAVORABLE LOAN IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY AND THEY HAVE EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERN THAT THINGS WERE NOT MOVING ALONG WITH THE PROJECT AS THEY SHOULD BE. HE ALSO POINTED OUT TO THE COMMISSIONERS THAT THE CURRENT RATE OF INFLATION WAS ABOUT 1% A MONTH. DR. SMITH STATED THAT MR. GREEN HAD ASKED HIM TO SPEAK TO THE COMMISSIONERS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY INTEND TO PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT. THE DETAILS COULD THEN BE HANDLED AT A LATER TIME. OTHERWISE, THE LOAN COMMITMENT MIGHT BE WITHDRAWN. AUG 141973 -3- E, oo 17 PAU340 ►i m AUG 141973 COMMISSIONER MASSEY ASKED, "HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE?" DR. SMITH REPLIED THAT PLANS FOR REGION N0, 2 SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY MARCH 1, 1974. MR. JENNINGS ASKED, "CAN YOU FINISH THESE PLANS BY THEN?" DR. SMITH REPLIED THAT IT WOULD BE VERY CLOSE BECAUSE THEY ESTIMATED IT WOULD TAKE NINE MONTHS, COMMISSIONER MASSEY STATED, "WHAT THEY WANT IS AN ANSWER NOW," DR. SMITH REPLIED, "YES, YOU WILL NOT GET A BETTER LOAN COMMITMENT AT ANY TIME." COMMISSIONER MASSEY THEN ASKED, "WILL WE BE USING LOAN MONEY NOW OR XOUNTY MONEY?" DR, SMITH REPLIED, "WE HAVE APPLIED FOR AN INTERIM CON- STRUCTION LOAN WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA." COMMISSIONER SIEBERT THEN ASKED, "I DO NOT SEE HOW WE CAN GIVE AN ANSWER WITHOUT SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS. I KEEP THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CITY OF VERO BEACH THEIR ASSESSMENT WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SAMPLE, BUT IT TURNED OUT THAT WAY." CHAIRMAN Loy THEN STATED, "WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY AND MUST HAVE SOME TYPE OF SEWER AND WATER PROGRAM. IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE PROPER GROWTH FOR INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, I THINK WE SHOULD USE THE PRESENT F.H.A. FINANCING." ATTORNEY BURCH STATED, "PRESENT INTEREST COST FOR THE FINANC•iNG OF MAJOR CONSTRUCTION IN THE SOUTH IS NOW 10 TO 13%." CHAIRMAN Loy STATED,"I ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SMALL SEWER AND WATER UNITS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY CAN DO THE PROPER JOB." COMMISSIONER MASSEY STATED, "IT DOES NOT SEEM PROPER TO GOUGE THE PRESENT PEOPLE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME HERE TO LIVE, FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THESE CHARGES, IT WOULD THROW THEM OFF THEIR LAND," t ATTORNEY BURCH STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THESE ARE EXCEOTIONS, AND WE MUST THINK OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE .IN THE COUNTY. -4- eoa� 1-7 PAGE 1 f } MR. JENNINGS STATED, "IT IS LIKE CASTOR OIL — HARD TO TAKE ,BUT SOMETIMES NECESSARY, MUCH OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY IS LOW LAND, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE ON A LOT OF THIS LAND TO HAVE SATISFACTORY' — SEPTIC TANKS. WE EVEN HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE RUN—OFF WATER IN THE CANALS WHICH WERE DESIGNED FOR AGRICULTURAL USE. I DO NOT SEE HOW WE CAN CHANGE THE PATTERN OF GROWTH EVEN IF WE DO NOT LIKE IT. I.DO NOT ENVY THE POSITION THE BOARD IS IN. PACKAGE PLANTS ARE NEVER 100% SATISFACTORY, AND I DO NOT KNOW OF ONE IN THIS COUNTY THAT IS 100% SATISFACTORY.. THOSE OF US THAT HAVE WORKED OVER THE YEARS -TO PRODUCE THE CHARACTER OF THIS COUNTY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THIS WITHOUT SATISFACTORY WATER AND SEWERS, THERE:IS NO WAY -TO STOP'PEOPLE FROM COMING HERE. 'THIS IS A LONG -RANGE -DECISION -FOR THE BOARD -TO MAKE. AGAIN,I DO NOT ENVY YOU." COMMISSIONER flASSEY STATED, "I QUESTION THE METHOD WE ARE USING TO ATTAIN THIS GOAL." MR. JENNINGS STATED, "WE DO HAVE TO CROSS THIS THRESHOLD AT SOME TIME." COMMISSIONER MASSEY STATED, "THE CITY OF VERO BEACH IS POLLUTING THE RIVER NOW." ATTORNEY BURCH SAID, "THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE THEM CORRECT THIS." COMMISSIONER MASSEY STATED, "WHEN YOU HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE, YOU HAVE PROBLEMS. I WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS." COMMISSIONER SIEBERT ASKED, "IF WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, WHY DO WE ONLY HAVE ONE WEEK? IF WE MAKE A DECISION NOW, WHY DO WE NEED A PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAM?" ATTORNEY BURCH THEN POINTED OUT THAT IN THE ORIGINAL LETTER FROM F.H.A. YOU PASSED A RESOLUTION AGREEING WITH THE TIME SCHEDULE. ; THE F.H.A. HAS OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANT THIS MONEY. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS, HE BELIEVED, HAS BEEN THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO BACK—FEED TO F.H.A. EXCEPT FROM DR. SMITH AND HIMSELF. ATTORNEY BURCH FURTHER SAID, "THE F.H.A. WANT TO KNOW WHEN, WHERE AND HOW YOU ARE GOING. YOU CAN TELL THEM YOU ARE GOING TO ADVERTISE FOR A PUBLIC NEARING AND THAT YOU WILL GIVE THEM A DEFINITE -5- AUG 141973 ooK 1.7 fAcE342 4 i ANSWER THEN. I BELIEVE THEY WILL ACCEPT THIS. I THINK YOU SHOULD GIVE THIS DECISION TO THEM IN TWO WEEKS AND CERTAINLY -NOT MORE THAN YHREE WEEKS." DR. SMITH STATED, "THIS IS TRUE. THEY (F.H.A.) ARE BEGIN- NING TO WONDER IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO ANYTHING. THERE SHOULD BE A DEFINITE PROGRAM, AND I THINK THIS IS VERY MUCH IN ORDER." CHAIRMAN Loy THEN SAID, "WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE } BEEN INTERESTED ENOUGH IN WHAT WE ARE DOING TO COME TO THIS.MEETING. IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT WHO WISHES TO BE HEARD?" EDGAR SCHLITT GAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS. , "HAVING SERVED ON THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL FOR SEVERAL YEARS HAS GIVEN ME THE BENEFIT OF SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT OTHER AREAS HAVE HAD. NONE OF THESE AREAS HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF THE LOAN TERMS THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED TO INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, AND ANY OBTAINED IN THE FUTURE WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE, t I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THE COUNTY OQMMISSIONERS WOULD WANT TO GIVE MUCH THOUGHT TO THIS MATTER, BUT YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THINK OF THE FUTURE. WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD UTILITIES, IT IS EASIER TO CONTROL THE TYPE OF GROWTH YOU HAVE. I WOULD HOPE WE WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE A CONTROLLED GOOD GROWTH. ANY DOLLARS SPENT TODAY ON THIS PROGRAM WILL BE MANY DOLLARS SAVED." CHAIRMAN Loy STATED, "WE DO WANT PUBLIC OPINION, BUT IT IS STILL OUR DECISION TO MAKE. COSTS ARE ESCALATING EVERY DAY." MR. THOMAS THEN STATED, "IF I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION PROPERLY, 9 IT WAS WHETHER OR NOT THE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD THECOST OF THIS PROGRAM AT THE 5% RATE WHICH WAS OFFERED BY F.H.A. IF THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE 57. RATE, THEY CERTAINLY CANNOT AFFORD 8 TO 9% WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE CHARGED IN THE FUTURE." THIS WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE PROGRAM, BUT A STATEMENT OF THE FINANCIAL FACTS AS HE SAW THEM. CHAIRMAN LOY THEN ASKED MR. BURCH IF HE THOUGHT HE COULD SCHEDULE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MR. BURCH STATED "YES," AND HE THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE IN THIS SUNDAY'S EDITION OF THE PRESS .JOURNAL AND SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS; al �OQK 17 PAGE343 m OVERALL COST OF PROGRAM ONG IER FINANCING HTERIM FINANCING SSESSMENTs FORMULAS LANS AND !'LAPS AVAILABLE N ICATE AREAS AFFECTED �YPICAL SITUATION ` ATTORNEY BURCH SAID, "I THINK WE SHOULD TELEPHONE THE F.H.A. TOMORROW AND THEN FOLLOW UP OUR ACTION WITH A LETTER." CHAIRMAN Loy SAID, "I THINK WE SHOULD AUTHORIZE THE ATTORNEY, ENGINEERS AND ADMINISTRATOR, TO PREPARE THE NECESSARY PUBLICITY PROF CEDURES FOR ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND -MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADVERTISING IN THE PRESS .JOURNAL ON SUNDAY, -AUGUST 19, 2973, FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.' COMMISSIONER DRITENBAS ENTERED THE MEETING AT 9:10 O'CLOCK R.M. -SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE NEWS.MEDIA WHO WERE PRESENT AGREED TO COOPERATE IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. ON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SIEBERT, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOGOSIAN, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY AUTHORIZED THE ATTORNEY, ENGINEERS AND ADMINISTRATOR, TO PREPARE THE NECESSARYPUBLICITY AND MAKE ALL ARRANGEMENTS FOR A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING ON THE SEWER AND WATER PROGRAM TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 23, 1973, AT 7:30 O'CLOCK P.M. AND PRE= PARE NOTICES FOR SUCH A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING to BE ADVERTISED �N THE LOCAL NEWS MEDIA. CHAIRMANjoY THEN ASKED ATTORNEY BURCH IF HE WOULD NOTIFY THE F.H.A. TOMORROW. THE CHAIRMAN THEN SET A MEETING FOR AUGUST 24, 1973, AT 8:30 O'CLOCK< A.M., AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING TO GIVE F.H.A. AN ANSWER. ATTORNEY BURCH ASKED, "HAVE WE HEARD FROM t4R. LITTLE, CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF VERO BEACH, AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE CAPACITY INDICATED IN OUR ORIGINAL CONTRACT WITH THEM? I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE AN OFFICIAL ANSWER." CHAIRMAN Loy STATED, "IF WE ARE To PROCEED WITH PRESENT PLANS,' WE MUST HAVE A CONCRETE ANSWER FROM THE CITY OF VERO BEACH AS TO THE PART THEY ARE GOING TO PLAY, WE PRESENTLY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM." DR. SMITH ASKED, "DO YOU WANT A REAFFIRMATION OF THE PRESENT CONTRACT?" MR. BEINDORF STATED, "THE F.H.A. IS REQUESTING THIS, AND I THINK THE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE IT." DR. SMITH STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE APPROPRIATE -7- V PAGE344 Al IG 141973 s ao COMMISSIONER MASSEY SAID, "I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS A HASSLE WITH INDIAN RIVER SHORES, ATTORNEY BURCH SAID, "THAT MIGHT BE, BUT ALL RE NEED IS TO CLARIFY OR REAFFIRM, IN VIEW OF MR. LITTLE'S RECENT STATEMENTS REGARDING CAPACITY, OUR CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF VERO BEACH." THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, ON MOTION MADE AND SECONDED, THE BOARD ADJOURNED AT 10 O'CLOCK P.M. ATTEST: ..:......... ....... .i ......... L�CRK LHAIRMAN - 8 - A �� P 'A45 AUG 141973 �DOIi: