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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/24/1973a FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1973 THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY MET IN SPECIAL SESSION AT THE COURTHOUSE, VERO BEACH, FLORIDA ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1973 AT 8:30 O'CLOCK A.M. PRESENT WERE ALMA LEE Loy, CHAIRMAN, EDWARD J. MASSEY, VICE CHAIRMAN WILLARD W. SIEBERT, JR.; .JACK U. DRITENBAS; AND RICHARD P. BOGOSIAN. ALSO PRESENT WERE JACK G.JENNINGS, COUNTY AD- MINISTRATOR; PAUL D. BURCH, ATTORNEY TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS L.S. THOMAS AND ELIZABETH FORLANI, DEPUTY CLERKS. COUNTY CONSULTING ENGINEERS JAMES BEINDORF AND DR. DAVID SMITH WERE ALSO PRESENT. THE CHAIRMAN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND STATED THAT MID -FLORIDA UTILITIES, INC. HAVE REQUESTED AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSES OF INCREASING THE SEWER AND WATER RATES IN THE MID -FLORIDA UTILITIES FRANCHISE AREA. ON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MASSEY, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SIEBERT, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY AUTHORIZED MID - FLORIDA UTILITIES INC. TO ADVERTISE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER 10, 1973 AT 1:30 O'CLOCK P.M. FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING AUTHORIZATION TO INCREASE THE SEWER AND WATER RATES IN THEIR FRANCHISE AREA. CHAIRMAN Loy STATED THAT THIS SPECIAL MEETING HAS BEEN CALLED AS A RESULT OF OUR WORKSHOP MEETINGS RELATIVE TO PLANS FOR PRESENTING A PROPOSED SEWER AND WATER PLAN FOR INDIAN RIVER COUNTY. AT THE PUBLIC INFORMATION HEARING HELD LAST NIGHT, "WE GOT THE WORD OUT AND WE GOT THE WORD BACK". THE MEETING TODAY IS FOR THIS BOARD TO MAKE A DECISION REGARDING A 000NTY- WIDE SEWER AND WATER SYSTEM. FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION HAD APPROVED A $20,639,000.00 LOAN COMMITMENT TO THE COUNTY TO FINANCE THE BULK OF A SEWER AND WATER PROJECT AND TODAY IS THE DEADLINE THE F.H.A. HAS GIVEN THE COUNTY FOR ACCEPTING THE LOAN, G 24 19lROK .17: P.AGE408 AUG 241973 COMMISSIONER MASSEY STATED HE HAD A CLEAR INDICATION FROM THE PEOPLE IN HIS DISTRICT THAT THEY OPPOSED THE SEWER AND WATER SYSTEM AS PRESENTED, AND HE WOULD ABIDE BY THEIR WISHES. COMMISSIONER SIEBERT STATED THAT THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION HE HAS HAD TO MAKE, BUT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT BASED ON THE FOLLOWING REASONS: 1. THERE ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF RESIDENTS THAT WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS PROGRAM. IF CITRUS OWNERS AND HARDSHIP CASES WERE EXEMPT FROM PAYING THE BILL, IT WOULD HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON OUR SOURCES OF REVENUE WHICH WE MAY NOT HAVE ANITICIPATED OR PROVIDED FOR, 2. THE IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE COULD REACH FAR BEYOND THE FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND HAVE VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, 3. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY ASSURANCE THAT THE CITY OF VERO BEACH WILL SELL WATER f AND TREAT SEWAGE FROM REGION II IN THE SOUTH HALF OF THE COUNTY. 4. FOR ANY PROJECT'OF THIS MAGNITUDE TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF SUCCESS, IT MUST ENJOY A REASONABLE DEGREE OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT, WHICH SIMPLY STATED, IT DOES NOT, COMMISSIONER SIEBERT STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THESE REASONS IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT, COMMISSIONER DRITENBAS STATED THAT THESE MEETINGS BROUGHT OUT QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE NOT CONSIDERED. 1. THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH HAS PROPOSED A MORATORIUM ON ALL SEPTIC TANKS IN THE COUNTY. IF A SEWER AND WATER PROGRAM IS NOT ADOPTED, WHAT EFFECT WILL THIS PROPOSED STATE MORATORIUM ON SEPTIC TANKS HAVE? 2. WHAT EFFECT WILL THE PROPOSED STATE MORATORIUM ON SEPTIC TANKS HAVE ON THE TAX ASSESSOR, TAXING LANDS THAT A PROPERTY OWNER CANNOT USE? ATTORNEY BURCH STATED THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS MADE ITS DISCONTENT WITH WIDESPREAD POLLUTION FROM SEPTIC TANKS KNOWN, -2- eoo� 17 Wc4p09 E A.. `AUG 2 41973 s IF THERE IS A MORATORIUM IMPOSED ON BUILDING. THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS BEEN DENIED THE RIGHT TO USE HIS LAND AND COULD DEMAND LOWER TAXES. - COMMISSIONER DRITENBAS FURTHER STATED THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY THAT HAVE SEPTIC TANKS THAT ARE NOT OPERATING AND ARE IN DIRE NEED OF A SEWER SYSTEM. THESE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN. COMMISSIONER DRITENBAS ALSO -POINTED OUT THAT THE INTEREST RATE OF 5% ON THE $20,639,000.00 FROM F.N.A. SHOULD NOT BE THE MAJOR FACTOR IN MAKING THIS DECISION COMMISSIONER BOGOSIAN STATED THAT HE HAD TWO THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM: 1. AS A CITIZEN HE DID NOT NEED SEWERS. 2. AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER HE WOULD HAVE TO BE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER BOGOSIAN STATED THAT HE DOES NOT FEEL THAT THE APPROXIMATELY 300 PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE PUBLIC INFORMATION HEARING, WHO WERE OPPOSED TO THE SEWER AND WATER SYSTEM, REPRESENT THE WHOLE COUNTY. HE FURTHER STATED THAT MAYBE THIS IS NOT A PRACTICAL PROGRAM FOR THE CITRUS PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT THERE ARE AREAS WHERE,THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO WORK AT PUTTING TOGETHER A SYSTEM THAT WILL BENEFIT THOSE AREAS. COMMISSIONER BOGOSIAN SUGGESTED THAT WE GO BACK TO THE CONSULTING ENGINEERS AND: WORK OUT A PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN CRITICAL AREAS THAT WOULD BE MOST PRACTICAL AND THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. COMMISSIONER BOGOSIAN SUGGESTED WORKING OUT A REASONABLE MODIFICATION PROGRAM TO SERVE THE EVERYDAY USER AND NOT THE CITRUS PEOPLE. COMMISSIONER DRITENBAS SUGGESTED THAT WE PUT THE QUESTION TO REFERENDUM. COMMISSIONER SIEBERT STATED THAT HE DID NOT THINK IT WOULD BE PROPER SINCE MANY PEOPLE WILL BE VOTING THAT ARE NOT AFFECTED BY IT. COMMISSIONER SIEBERT STATED THAT HE LIKED COMMISSIONER BOGOSIAN'S SUGGESTION TO SUPPLY AREAS WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE A CRITICAL PROBLEM AND NEED. _3- �f.� eeox '17 MAD L� ..CHAIRMAN Loy STATED THAT WE ARE COMPLETELY JUSTIFIED IN ASKING FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION FOR AN EXTENSION OF.90 TO -120 DAYS IN WHICH.TO GIVE OUR ANSWER. SHE AGREED WITH THE SUGGESTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER BOGOSIAN TO GO BACK Td THE ENGINEERS TO POSSIBLY CONSIDER A SMALLER PROGRAM. THE CHAIRMAN THEN ASKED IF ANYONE PRESENT WISHED TO BE HEARD. BERT KOVASH APPEARED AND STATED THAT HE WAS AGAINST A SEWER PROGRAM BUT WOULD BE AGREEABLE TO JUST A WATER SYSTEM. _i HUGH RUSSELL APPEARED WITH SUGGESTIONS REGARDING A I SYSTEM WHEREBY CITRUS PEOPLE WOULD NOT TIE INTO THE SYSTEM UNLESS THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE USE OF THE LAND. GENE RYALL APPEARED IN OPPOSITION TO A SEWER AND WATER SYSTEM. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION A MOTION'WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER . i SIEBERT, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DRITENBAS, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THAT THE BOARD NOTIFY THE FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION STATING THAT WE DO NOT NOW HAVE A PLAN _ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY OR THE COMMISSION. HOWEVER, THIS BOARD DOES RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE AREAS OF CRITICAL CONCERN IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY AND WE WILL PROCEED TO ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS WE ARE FACED* WITH AND ARE REQUESTING AN EXTENSION.OF 120 DAYS IN ORDER TO BRING BACK AN ACCEPTABLE PROGRAM. THE BOARD AUTHORIZED ATTORNEY BURCH TO NOTIFY THE FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE BOARD'S REQUEST FOR r AN EXTENSION OF 120 DAYS. THE BOARD AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY CONSULTING ENGINEERS AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIT DOWN AND, BASED ON THESE • QUESTIONS: WHERE ARE OUR CRITICAL AREAS? HOW CAN THEY BEST BE HANDLED?- MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD. , JAMES BEINDORF STATED THAT THEY HAVE THE FEELING OF THE PEOPLE AND THE BOARD, BUT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, HAND IN HAND, TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. -4- 8aut '17 PAGAII AUG 2 191 9 -5- 60flK . 17 PAGE 412 . AUGI41973 Y a r RICHARD BIRD APPEARED AND STATED THAT THERE MIGHT BE A WAY TO COME UP WITH A FAIR AND EQUITABLE FORMULA FOR ASSESSMENTS, A FORMULA BASED ON LAND USE OF THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION: THE USE OF THE LAND SHOULD BE TIED INTO THE COST OF_ ASSESSEMENTS, ON MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SIEBERT, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BOGOSIAN, THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE LIST OF ERRORS AND INSOLVENCIES ON REAL PROPERTY AND INTANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY, AS SUBMITTED BY GENE MORRIS, TAX COLLECTOR. DAVID GREGG, CITY OF VERO BEACH COUNCILMAN APPEARED REQUESTING A CLARIFICATION OF THE BOARD'S DECISION OF AUGUST § 22, 19734To.COMMIT $200,000.00 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF BEACH- FRONT PROPERTY IN PELICAN COVE SUBDIVISION II, LOTS 1,23, AND 4, IN WHICH THE COUNTY REQUESTED AN UNDIVIDED 1/2 INTEREST IN THIS PURCHASE. � AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION A MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER SIEBERT, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MASSEY. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO INFORM THE CITY COUNCIL OF VERO BEACH THAT INDIAN RIVER COUNTY WILL JOIN WITH THE CITY OF VERO BEACH IN PURCHASING LOTS 1,23 AND 4, BLOCK I, PELICAN COVE j SUBDIVISION II, AND WILL ALLOCATE THE AMOUNT OF $200,000.00 FOR j THE PURCHASE OF SUBJECT PROPERTY, OWNERSHIP TO BE IN THE SAME PERCENTAGE AS THE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE PURCHASE, WITH EACH PARTY BEING CREDITED ON THE PERCENTAGE -OF OWNERSHIP FOR ANY STATE OR FEDERAL MONIES GRANTED ON THE BASIS OF THAT PARTIES CON- TRIBUTION THAT ARE CONSIDERED AS MATCHING FUNDS, CONTINGENT ON THE CITY OF VERO BEACH GUARANTEEING ACCESS AND PERPETUITY TO THE RESIDENTS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY. IN THE EVENT THAT THE CITY OF VERO BEACH SHOULD EVER CONSIDER ADMISSION FEES, THAT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY WILL BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO THE CITY OF VERO BEACH j CHARGING THE COUNTY RESIDENTS ANY SUCH FEE. -5- 60flK . 17 PAGE 412 . AUGI41973 Y s • f 1 , 'o THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS ON MOTION MADE, SECONDED AND CARRIED, THE BOARD ADJOURNED AT 11:45 o'CLocx A.M. t ATTEST: r 'CLERK CHAIRMAN a � BQQ�C ' � 1 PACE D . AUG 41���3 `'