02/15/1996 Special
96/34
MINUTES
OF THE MONROE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Special Meeting
Board of County Commissioners
Thursday, February 15, 1996
Marathon, Florida
A Special Meeting of the Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners convened at 9 a.m., on the above date, at the
Marathon Government Center. Present and answering to roll call
were Commissioners Keith Douglass, Wilhelmina Harvey, Jack
London, Mary Kay Reich and Mayor Shirley Freeman. Also present
were Danny L. Kolhage, Clerk; Garth Coller, Assistant County
Attorney; James Roberts, County Administrator; County Staff,
members of the Press and Radio; and the general public.
All stood for the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.
ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS, DELETIONS
There were no Additions, Corrections, or Deletions to
the Agenda.
Motion was made by Commissioner Harvey and seconded by
Commissioner Douglass to cancel the Special meeting called for
February 27, 1996 due to a conflict with the hearing on the
Comprehensive Land Use Plan before the Governor and Cabinet.
Motion carried unanimous.
DISCUSSION OF THE MARATHON
WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY
I. Presentation summar1z1ng Detrimental Effects on Water
Quality caused by present wastewater treatment and
disposal practices in the Keys.
Growth Management Director, Bob Herman, and Marine
Resources Director, George Garrett, addressed the Board.
PUBLIC INPUT
Paul Warrenfeltz, Harold Dillon, H. T. Pontin,
representing the Ramrod Key Yacht Club; Charles Causey,
representing the Florida Keys Environmental Fund; Chris Schrader,
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Mary Sukup, and Richie Moretti, addressed the Board.
Debbie Robertson, Administrative Aide for
Representative Peter Deutsch, addressed the Board and presented a
letter from Congressman Deutsch.
Motion was made by Mayor Freeman and seconded by
Commissioner London that the Board of County Commissioners finds
that current wastewater treatment and disposal practices together
with other conditions in South Florida contribute significantly
to the poor quality of confined and nearshore waters in the Keys.
Roll call vote was unanimous.
Motion was made by Commissioner Douglass and seconded
by Commissioner London that the Board of County Commissioners
further finds that the County must take affirmative action
towards eliminating wastewater as a source of nutrient landing to
confined and nearshore waters. Roll call vote was unanimous.
II. Selection of approach to correcting substandard
wastewater treatment and disposal practices in the
Marathon area.
Ken Williams, representing CH2MHill and Jack Teague,
representing the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative
Services, addressed the Board.
PUBLIC INPUT
Mr. Warrenfeltz, Murrel Jackson, representing Kingsail
Motel; Mr. Dillon, Mr. pontin, Mr. Causey, Mr. Schrader, Betty
Vail, Dagny Johnson, representing the Upper Keys citizens
Association; Eugene Shinkevich, representing the Florida Keys
citizens Coalition; and Joanne Nelson, addressed the Board.
Motion was made by Commissioner London and seconded by
Commissioner Harvey directing Staff to further explore the
"blackbox" and any other technology and bring back a report to
the Board. Roll call vote was unanimous.
Mr. Causey, Ms. Nelson and Mr. Moretti, addressed the
Board.
Motion was made by Commissioner Douglass and seconded
by Commissioner Harvey to investigate the possibility of
involving the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental
Protection Agency in the adoption of a Wastewater Management Plan
for Monroe County. Roll call vote was unanimous.
Motion was made by Commissioner Reich that the Board of
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County Commissioners supports the pursuit of a wastewater
collection and disposal system to serve the Marathon area. The
Board also recognizes that a central system is not the only
alternative to achieving this goal and directing staff to pursue
other systems for presentation to the Governor and Cabinet.
Motion died for lack of a second.
Motion was made by Mayor Freeman and seconded by
Commissioner London that the Board of County Commissioners
supports pursuit of a central wastewater collection and treatment
to AWT standards with deep well injection to the boulder zone to
serve the Marathon area "and at the same time continue to explore
alternate methods". The Board also "finds" that a central system
is the "best known" alternative that achieves the goal of
eliminating wastewater nutrient loading to nearshore waters and
that the cost of a central system is comparable to or less than
the decentralized (on-site or subregional) options. During
discussion, motion was withdrawn.
Motion was made by Mayor Freeman and seconded by
Commissioner Douglass that the Board of County Commissioners
supports pursuit of a central wastewater collection and treatment
to AWT standards with deep well injection to the boulder zone to
serve the Marathon area "while at the same time continuing
investigation of alternative technology". The balance of the
paragraph to be deleted. During discussion, motion was
withdrawn.
Motion was made by Commissioner London and seconded by
Mayor Freeman that the Board of County Commissioners supports
pursuit of a central wastewater collection and treatment system
to AWT standards with deep well injection to the boulder zone to
serve the Marathon area. The Board also "finds" that a central
system is "currently" the "best known" alternative that achieves
the goal of eliminating wastewater nutrient loading to nearshore
waters and that the cost of a central system is comparable to or
less than the decentralized (on-site or subregional) options.
"The Board reserves the right to continue to review alternative
technologies which may provide better alternatives". Roll call
vote was taken with the following results:
Commissioner Douglass Yes
Commissioner Harvey Yes
Commissioner London Yes
Commissioner Reich No
Mayor Freeman Yes
Motion carried.
III. Selection of an option for financing a central
wastewater system for the Marathon area, thereby
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establishing in concept connection fees and monthly
user charges per connection or Equivalent Development
unit (EDU).
Ken Williams, representing CH2MHill, and Bill Tease,
representing Lindahl, Browning, Ferrari & Hellstrom, Inc.,
addressed the Board.
PUBLIC INPUT
Charles Mills, John Stroka, Mr. Moretti, and Mr.
Schrader, addressed the Board.
Motion was made by Commissioner London and seconded by
Commissioner Harvey that the Board of County Commissioners
selects in concept the financing option that resulted in the
following maximum projected connection fee and monthly user
charge per EDU:
Maximum Connection Fee:
Maximum User Charge:
Amount of outside financing
(grants) required:
Percent outside financing
(grants) required:
$ 1000
40
41,024,073
66%
During discussion, the motion was amended as follows:
Maximum Connection Fee:
Maximum User Charge:
Amount of outside financing
(grants) required:
Percent outside financing
(grants) required:
1600
35
41,024,073
66%
During further discussion, the Board proceeded to the
consideration of the Agenda item concerning the Comprehensive
Land Use Plan. Commissioner London gave the Board an update
concerning the activity of the intervenors in the County's
Comprehensive Land Use Plan adoption process before the Governor
and Cabinet. He indicated that the Hearing before the Governor
and Cabinets is scheduled for February 27, 1996 and that it would
be very beneficial for as many citizens who are able and all of
the County Commissioners to be present at that Hearing. No
further action. The Board then proceeded to vote on the
preceding motion. Roll call vote was taken with the following
results:
commissioner Douglass Yes
Commissioner Harvey Yes
Commissioner London Yes
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Commissioner Reich No
Mayor Freeman Yes
Motion carried.
IV. Conceptual approval of draft ordinances and resolution
required for development of a wastewater utility and
submittal to the state Revolving Fund for Financing.
After discussion, motion was made by Commissioner
London and seconded by Mayor Freeman granting approval of the
following:
Conceptual approval of draft Sewer Use Ordinance
Conceptual approval of draft Use Charge Ordinance
Conceptual approval of draft Use Charge Resolution
Conceptual approval of draft Dispute Resolution
Ordinance.
Roll call vote was taken with the following results:
Commissioner Douglass Yes
Commissioner Harvey Yes
Commissioner London Yes
Commissioner Reich No
Mayor Freeman Yes
Motion carried.
Mayor Freeman discussed and requested a Staff update on
the status of variation of canals.
V. Explanation of recent developments regarding proposed
wastewater treatment plant sites (presentation by
Staff)
Board.
Growth Management Director, Bob Herman, addressed the
There being no further business to come before the
Board, the meeting was adjourned.
Clerk to the Board of County
Commissioners of Monroe County
~~.1.c.M~
Deputy Clerk