Resolution 467-2002
RESOLUTION NO. 467 2002
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 400-2002
REQUESTING LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES TO
PURSUE ALL AVAILABLE FUNDS FOR WASTEWATER AND
STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS IDENTIFIED IN THE MONROE
COUNTY MASTER WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER PLANS, AND TO
CONSIDER THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS TO SECURE, ADMINISTER
AND DISPERSE SUCH FUNDING.
WHEREAS, the projected cost to provide wastewater and stormwater
infrastructure improvements in the Florida Keys is estimated to exceed $425 million
according to the Monroe County Master Wastewater and Stormwater plans; and
WHEREAS, the members of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Water
Quality Steering Committee, which includes local, state and federal representation, has
recognized and supported the need for state and federal funding to assist with the cost
of such infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, Congress has passed an authorization of $100 million to assist in
providing necessary wastewater and storm water infrastructure in the Florida Keys in a
65% - 35% federal to non-federal match to be administered by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida, under the leadership of State Representative Ken
Sorensen and with the support of Governor Jeb Bush, has provided $12 million in
funding to provide for such infrastructure improvements as part of the non-federal match
to the federally authorized $100 million; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Community Affairs oversees the Monroe
County Comprehensive Plan which requires timely wastewater and stormwater
improvements under the Area of Critical State Concern status; and
WHEREAS, State Representative Ken Sorenson has expressed the desire to
establish a wastewater and stormwater trust fund to be administered by the Florida
Department of Community Affairs; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County Board of County Commissioners appreciates the
support and recognizes the need for wastewater and stormwater funding from local,
state and federal sources in order to accomplish the requirements of the Monroe County
Wastewater and Stormwater Master Plans; and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners passed Resolution
No. 400-2002 in the interest of supporting state and federal efforts to assist in funding
such infrastructure improvements; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys Intergovernmental Task Force, representing local,
state and federal interests in the Florida Keys, has recommended against seeking to
transfer administrative responsibility for the authorized, but not yet allocated, Federal
funding for wastewater and stormwater projects in Monroe County from the Army Corps
of Engineers to the Florida Department of Community Affairs, to be disbursed from a
DCA- administered trust fund; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The BOCC requests that State Representative Ken Sorenson, Governor
Jeb Bush, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, Senator Graham, Senator Nelson and
representatives of the Florida Keys Intergovernmental Task Force, including the County,
convene to develop a consensus of the most effective way for local, state and federal
funds to be secured, administered and dispersed for purposes of wastewater and
stormwater infrastructure improvements.
Section 2. The administration of allocated federal funding via the Florida Keys
Water Quality Improvements Act remains the responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, with the South Florida Water Management District serving as the local partner
until and unless a joint recommendation from the parties identified in Section 1 of this
Resolution determines otherwise.
Section 3. The Clerk is directed to send certified copies of this Resolution to
Monroe County's State legislative delegation, Senator Graham, Senator Nelson,
Congresswoman Ros-Lethinen, and all five municipalities in Monroe County replacing
Resolution No. 400-2002.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 16th day of October, 2002.
Mayor McCoy
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BOARD OF COUNTY CO
OF MONROE COUNTY,
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BOB GRAHAM
FLORIDA
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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0903
December 3, 2002
Mr. Danny L. Kolhage
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Monroe County
500 Whitehead Street
Key West, Florida 33040
Dear Danny:
Endosed i~ a copy of the latest correspondence received by my office rt:garding my inquiry on
your behalf.
My staff and I will continue to follow your case until resolution and we will keep you informed
of further developments.
With kind regards,
Sincerely,
United States Senator
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USDA
United States
Department of
Agriculture
Rural Development
FloridaNirgin Islands
4440 Northwest 25th Place
Post Office Box 147010
Gainesville, FL 32614-7010
Office of State Director
Telephone: 352-338-3402
Fax: 352.338-3405
TDD: 352-338-3499
www.rurdev.usda.govlff
November 22,2002
Honorable Bob Graham
United State Senator
2252 Killeam Center Boulevard, Suite 300
Tallahassee, Florida 32309-3573
Attention: Karen Bunton
Dear Senator Graham:
This is in reply to your letter of November 19,2002, to which you attached a copy of
Resolution No. 467-2002 as adopted by the Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners on October 16, 2002. In the resolution, the board has resolved to pursue
all available Federal, State and Local funds for wastewater and stormwater improvements
as identified in the Monroe County Master Wastewater and Stormwater Plans and to
consider the most effective means to secure, administer and disperse such funding. You
have requested our review and comments on the resolution.
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) administers a Water and Wastewater Loan and Grant
Program designed to improve the quality of life and promote economic development in
rural America. In Florida, the program is administered at the State and local level by
field offices of USDA's Rural Development mission area.
Under the program, direct loans may be made to develop wastewater systems, including
storm drainage, in rural areas and cities and towns with a population of 10,000 or less
inhabitants based on the most recent decennial census of the U. S. Funds are available to
public entities such as municipalities, counties, special purpose districts and Indian Tribes
as well as corporations operated on a not-for-profit basis. Priority is given to public
entities in areas with less than 5,500 people to restore a deteriorating wastewater system
or to improve, enlarge, or modify an inadequate waste facility. Applicants for funding
under the program must be unable to obtain funds from other sources at reasonable rates
and terms to finance the proposed project. Grant funds available under the program are
used to help reduce waste disposal user costs to a reasonable level for users of the system.
Funding for this program is received on an annual basis through an appropriation process.
Currently, we are operating under a Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2003, pending
final action on the Federal Agencies appropriations for the year. Typically, we receive a
State allocation of funds for Florida to assist in funding high priority projects within the
State. These funds are administered directly by the agency through its field office
structure within the State. Monroe County is served by our Area Five Office in West
Palm Beach, Florida.
Letter dated 12/22/02 to Senator Graham (Con't)
Page Two
Based on the estimates of cost shown in the resolution, it may be difficult for us to
consider projects of the magnitude indicated. However, there are areas of Monroe
County that are considered "rural"; and, as such, could be evaluated for eligibility for
funding under this program.
If the county and its representatives would like more information about our program to
include eligibility requirements and application processing procedures, we would
encourage them to contact our Rural Development Manager that serves the South Florida
area. His name and contact information are as follows:
Mr. Gregory L. Caruthers, Rural Development Manager
USDA, Rural Development, Area Five Office
750 South Military Trail, Suite J
West Palm Beach, Florida, 33415
Telephone: 561-683-2285
Facsimile: 561-683-6249
Email: greg.caruthers@f1.usda.gov
Ifwe can be of further assistance, please let us know.
Sincerely,
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CHARLES W. CLEMONS, SR.
State Director
c: RDM, West Palm Beach
BOB GRAHAM
FLORIDA
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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0903
January ]4,2003
Mr. Danny L. Kolhage
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Monroe County
500 Whitehead Street
Key West, Florida 33040
Dear Danny:
In response to my inquiry on your behalf, I have enclosed for your reference a copy of the letter I
received from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Kasey Gillette from my Washington, D.C. office will notify interested Monroe County officials,
if there are any new developments related to a Congressional authorization. If I can be of
assistance with other matters, please do not hesitate to let me know. It is important to me to be
aware of your views and concerns III order to better represent you in Washington.
Again, thank you for allowing me this opportunity to serve you.
With kind regards,
Sincerely,
United States Senator
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION 4
ATLANTA FEDERAL CENTER
61 FORSYTH STREET
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-8960
DEe 9 2002
Honorable Bob Graham
United States Senator
2252 Killearn Center Boulevard, Suite 300
Tallahassee, Florida 32309-3573
Dear Senator Graham:
Thank you for your November 19,2002, letter on behalf of Mr. Danny L. Kolhage, Clerk
of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida, requesting your support for federal funding for
wastewater and storm water improvements identified in the Monroe County Master Wastewater
and Stormwater Plans. You are requesting that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EP A)
Region 4 review the information submitted by Monroe County and provide your office with our
comments. We are pleased to provide you with the following comments.
As you are aware, EP A Region 4 has been working with Monroe County elected officials
and staff since 1991, when we and the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, began the
development of a Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP) for the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary. The WQPP was finalized in 1996 and includes priority corrective actions and
schedules addressing point and nonpoint sources of pollution to restore and maintain the
chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Sanctuary. The WQPP also includes a
comprehensive monitoring and special studies program. This program has been funded primarily
by EP A at over $10 million.
EP A continues to work with numerous federal, State, and local government agencies to
complete implementation ofrnany of the numerous strategies in the WQPP document~ including
the following: 1) development ofa Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan for the Florida Keys that
evaluates options for upgrading existing inadequate wastewater infrastructure, such as cesspits
and septic systems; 2) establishment ofan inspection/compliance program for cesspits and septic
systems; 3) development ofa Stormwater Master Plan for the Florida Keys; 4) establishment ofa
no discharge zone for all State waters within the boundary of the Florida Keys National Marine
Sanctuary; and 5) inventory and characterize dead-end canals/basins and investigate alternative
management strategies to improve their water quality.
In addition, EP A has provided federal dollars to support many projects associated with the
improvement of water quality in the Florida Keys,'including the following: 1) $500,000 for a
wastewater demonstration project on Big Pine Key to test iimovative onsite disposal systems;
2) a $3,800,000 grant to Monroe County to help fund state-of-the-art dec,entralized wastewater
rruinagement systems; 3) $4,326,000 for a Title II construction grant to Monroe County for a
Internet Address (UAL) . http://www.epa.gov
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publicly-owned wastewater management system in the Marathon area; and 4) $400,000 for
several environmental restoration projects throughout the Florida Keys.
EP A recognizes that implementation of a comprehensive wastewater master plan to
upgrade sewage treatment in Monroe County will require large sums of money with costs
estimated at up to $438 million (per the Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan, which was finalized in
June 2000). We also understand that many residents of the Florida Keys will experience hardship
if required to bear the full financial responsibility of replacing inadequate onsite treatment systems.
Recognizing these facts, Region 4 has been working with our federal, State and local government
partners on the WQPP Steering Committee to identify funds which could be dedicated to assisting
Monroe County and its citizens with upgrading insufficient wastewater and stormwater
infrastructure.
EP A Region 4 is encouraged by the recent actions takw by local governments in the
Florida Keys to address wastewater issues and the fact that Governor Bush has supported and the
State has provided $12 million for wastewater improvements in Monroe County. Region 4 will
continue its participation in the partnership between federal, State and local government agencies
and the concerned citizens of Monroe County to work together to solve the complex
environmental problems of the Florida Keys. We cannot afford to lose this coral reef ecosystem
of national importance.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me or have your
staff contact the EP A Region 4 Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations at
(404) 562-8327.
I . Palmer, Jr.
Regional Administrator
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