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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/19/1992SPECIAL MEETING Thursday, November 19, 1992 The Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County, Florida, met in Special Session at the County Commission Chambers, ' 1840 25th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, on Thursday, November 19, 1992, at 9:00 o'clock A. M. Present were Carolyn K. Eggert, Chairman; Richard N. Bird, Vice Chairman; Fran B. Adams; Kenneth R. Macht; and John W. Tippin. Also present were James E. Chandler, County Administrator; Charles P. Vitunac, County Attorney; and Deputy Clerks Pat Held and Diane Albin. The hour of 9:05 o'clock A. M. having passed, the County Attorney announced that this Public Workshop has been properly advertised, as follows: VERO BEACH PRESS -JOURNAL Published Daily Vero Beach, Indian River County, Florida COUNTY OF INDIAN RIVER: STATE OF FLORIDA Before the undersigned authority personally appeared J. J. Schumann, Jr. who on oath says that he is Business Manager of the Vero Beach Press-Joumal, a daily newspaper published at Vero Beach in Indian River County, Florida; that the attached copy of advertisement, being a 'moi/ sir � i i� i ►�yliyy In the ��,�� % Court, was pub- lished in said newspaper in the issues of�.iiy%%' � / � ��/C'd s Affiant further says that the said Vero Beach Press-Joumal is a newspaper published at Vero Beach, in said Indian River County, Florida, and that the said newspaper has heretofore been continuously published in said Indian River County, Florida, each daily and has been entered as second class mail matter at the post office in Vero Beach, in said Indian River Coun- ty, Florida, for a period of one year next preceding the first publication of the attached copy of advertisement; and affiant further says that he has neither paid nor promised any person, firm or corporation any discount, rebate, commission or refund for the purpose of securing this advertisement for publication In the said newspaper. Sworn to and subscribed fore this day of Za��.D. 19 0,:?— _:s ^-- (Business Ma ager) (SEAL) Nehry firhlk. Stara of 11arMb t�l iSpP,ru.lsiq � 18At1 The Board of CPo1UBB1LIIC NOTICE � Caany hold PUBLIC WORKS40PS In the C-*rdsslon Chamber III the Admkilsbetion ,18440 2255thSt L AO Interested parties are part>cipete In the following =.. November 19, 1992 - 9:00 A.M. - Sewer and Water Overview Wedrtasdeyy, November 25, 1992 - 9:00 A.M. - As- n' P►ooed�a- for Saucer and Water December WT OM1'p�S�ge Overview - 9:00 A M - SoOd Thursday, Dem 17, 1992 - 7:00 P.M. - Exple- nation of UtNty Charges, SOBS Waste Asseswnalts and other public oc Wednesdag yy December23, 1992 - 100 A.M. -Over Se�r�v ci es; Perel, R Be WI/Retxeatiwi. nt and AnYOW who � � any decimal which be that a verbatim record of the edings ac rid to ensure ace, the b which hC11010S, testimony and evidence talon which d. who needs 8 special accomncda. ttlyorl the Coun- ns mayDi bMfts Act (ADA cmrtllnator et 597-9000 x409 at least 40 tan In advance of meeting. NOV.12,1992 949342 ROOK 8 NOV 191992 BOOK 88 PnF 94 -7 The Chairman called the meeting to order and announced that this is a workshop only. Terry Pinto, Utilities Director, came before the Board to present a Water and Wastewater Overview. After thanking the Board for giving him the opportunity to make this presentation, he indicated that he wanted to give the Board members a history of the County Utilities Department and an understanding of the various components of a utilities system. Director Pinto conveyed his belief that utilities service is the heartbeat of a community and that it is impossible to have growth without a strong utilities system. He reported that today's presentation would give a general overview of water and wastewater service, and future meetings would discuss assessment procedures, solid waste, septage, sludge, and rate charges. Director Pinto noted that in the 70's the County Commission had an extraordinary amount of vision and foresight, having purchased 200 acres of land to meets its landfill requirements. As a result, the County was in a better position to grow twenty years ago than many counties in Florida are in today. The County Commission also recognized that some time in the future, the County would have to get into the utilities business. In order to prepare for it, the County executed franchise agreements whereby the franchises would become part of a regional facility when the County was ready for them. Other counties, such as Sarasota County, are presently in a difficult position because they have to regionalize but the franchises do not speak to what kind of transfer will take place. Those counties are going to have to negotiate a major purchase bond which will far exceed the actual value of the franchises. The IRC County Commission also managed to talk the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) into a $20 million dollar loan commitment in 1978 to build a major reverse osmosis water plant in South County. At that time, the reverse osmosis procedure was very controversial, but the County recognized that a conventional plant would not be able to handle the water problems that were going to occur because of the high water table and agricultural runoff. Between 1980 and 1983, the County was uncertain what direction it wanted to go and was headed for some major mistakes. Consideration was given to purchasing the South Beach utility service franchise. At a cost of $7 million dollars, a river crossing would have to be done to service a maximum of 1,500 customers. Prior to 1982, decisions were being made based on recommendations of the Engineering Department. Although the recommendations made sense from an engineering viewpoint, they did not stand up to a cost - 2 M _ - M benefit analysis. It was much more cost effective for the City of Vero Beach, which was already providing utility service east of the river, to take over the South Beach franchise. -- Director Pinto related that after he was hired in 1982 his first task as Utilities Director was to raise rates so that the County would not be in default on the FHA bonds. At that time the Utilities Department had a $200,000 budget deficit. In addition, the County had over 100 franchises with private utilities systems, some of which had not been adequately maintained and needed to be taken over by the County as soon as possible. Director Pinto then proceeded to give a slide show presentation, and written materials were provided to each Board member. The presentation included an organizational chart of the Utilities Department, bar graphs demonstrating plant and equipment, water and wastewater growth statistics, and Florida Department of Environmental Regulation requirements for utilities expansion. Additional slides were shown of the various water production facilities in the County and their respective capacities. Wastewater reclamation facilities were discussed, and Director Pinto explained that the Utilities Department is not currently reselling treated effluent, but is using the effluent for County irrigation, including the golf course and sod farm. He predicted that there will be an increasing demand for effluent during the next few years, and the County will be treating increasing amounts of effluent. If the resale does not bring enough income to pay for the treatment, then the person who generated the wastewater must necessarily bear the burden of the cost for treating it. Ken Macht asked whether a customer's utility bills increase or decrease when the County takes over a franchise and Director Pinto explained that the County's rates are frequently higher, because in most cases the developer has been subsidizing the cost of utilities. Director Pinto then explained the procedure when the County takes over private franchises. If the private franchise has not recovered their investment by the time it is taken over by the County, the County charges a surcharge to the customers within that development, which is turned over to the developer. After the developer has recovered his investment, the surcharge is discontinued. Commissioner Adams asked if the customers would have to pay an additional surcharge if the County sold the plant, and Attorney Vitunac explained that since the County would not make any money on the sale there would not be an additional surcharge. 3 NOVL_ IV 1992 BOOK 88 F,,u Fj- rNGV 19 19971 BOOK 88 P s 9 Discussion ensued regarding the fact that the City of Sebastian had wanted to be part of the County utilities system but later decided to go into the utilities business themselves. The County and the City of Sebastian agreed that the County would provide service until May, 1993. After that date, the City of Sebastian will be completely responsible for utilities service to Sebastian residents. Director Pinto gave the board a history of the sludge -sewage treatment plant. He reported that at the time he became Utilities Director, the County was allowing people to dump sludge and sewage from their trucks into a big lagoon. Director Pinto then described in detail how the wastewater treatment systems work so that: the effluent can be used for irrigation systems. Director Pinto cited various examples of the technical, complicated nature of the utilities business, and discussed the past and projected growth of the utilities service in Indian River County. Commissioner Tippin asked about the comprehensive plan requirements. Director Pinto responded that our biggest problem right now is to watch out for new development. The Comprehensive Plan requires us to put lines into defined urban service areas, and the County has to run lines through other areas in order to service the areas required to be serviced. Also, the County must project what the requirements will be in the year 2010, what size line will be built, and who pays for it. Commissioner Eggert mentioned that maybe the Comprehensive Plan needs to be looked at, and Director Pinto informed the Board that the Utilities Department will be coming before the Board soon with a master plan for them to review. COPY OF PRESENTATION MATERIALS ARE ON FILE IN THE COUNTY COMMISSION OFFICE LIBRARY 4 M The Chairman asked if there was anyone from the public who wished to be heard. There were none. There being no further business, the Board adjourned at 11:45 o'clock a.m. ATTEST: J. . Barton, Clerk L Caroler Egger , #thairman 800K 8 8 F,1F 9 7 -.94 Nov 19 1997