HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Special Meeting_10/10/1972MII~'UTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CO[TNCILMEN OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA
A Special Council Meeting was held by the Councilmen
of the Village of Tequesta, Florida at 7:30 P.M., Tuesday, October 10,
1972 at the Village Hall. Councilmen present were Messrs: Russell,
Barr, Cunningham, Little and Frank. Also present were Robert Harp,
Village Manager, Christopher H. Cook, Village Attorney and William B.
Sydow, Sewer Department Consulting Engineer.
Mayor Russell advised that the Special Council
Meeting had been set at the September 19, 1972 Council Meeting to
consider and act upon various pending sewer department matters.
Mayor Russell advised the first subject for consider-
ation was the revision of Sewer Department rates to resolve
inequities in rates which had been assumed when the Village took
over the plant and to provide for equality in all rates. The
Village Manager reviewed a rate study he had made of the Sewer
Department accounts, which he had given to each Councilman. The
study showed the inequities in the existing rates; that commercial
accounts had been computed. on an equivalent tap basis using the
highest monthly water consumption divided by 200 GPD; the existing
• debt service to be covered and other budgetary data. The report
indicated a rate of approximately $5.00 to provide adequate funds
for the proper operation of the department. The Consulting
Engineer had been consulted on the basis used for determining
commercial taps. Mr. Sydow said rates varied for sewer service
based upon the operation and debt service requirements of the
various plants but said he believed the $5.00 per month rate to be
quite reasonable. He further stated that there were many
indicators appearing which point to greatly increased monthly
charges for sewer service everywhere.- Mr. Joe Blizzard questioned
the method of determining the commercial account rates. Several
persons in the audience said they thought some consideration should
be given to the number of bathrooms or toilet fixtures as a basis
for determining charges. Mayor Russell stated the tap fees could
be used to apply to amortization of the debt and for capital
improvements to the plant. Councilman Barr suggested that a rate
of $4.50 or $4.75 per month be established with the other Councilmen
feeling the rate should be $5.00 per month.
The Village Attorney read an ordinance providing for
a sewer rate of $5.00 and other matters concerning sewer service.
Barr moved, seconded by Cunningham and unanimously passed that the
reading be approved. All Councilmen being present and voting for
the approval, Ordinance No. 205 was hereby passed and adopted on
First Reading.
10-10-72 - 2
-2-
Mayor Russell advised the next item for consideration
was Mr. Paul Thomson's request for 96 sewer taps for a condiminiittu
complex in the Town of Jupiter. Mr. Sydow referred to his letter
of October 9, 1972 and Department of Pollution Control letter
dated October 6, 1972 in which the proposed method of treatment
of the effluent in the expansion plant was approved. His letter
recott~nended that the Village authorize the Consulting Engineers
to prepare necessary construction plans, specifications and appli-
cations to construct the temporary 50,000 GPD plant addition and
this would resolve the matter of Mr. Thomson's taps since he was
one of the contributors to the plant expansion. Mr. L. M. Taylor,
Attorney for Mr. Thomson, reviewed his clients prior requests for
the taps and the fact that the existing lift station was located
partly on Mr. Thomson's property and another property and the force
main had been constructed to service the Kurtz Industrial Subdivision
and Mr. Thomson's land since the land was owned by Mr. Kurtz when
he constructed the system. Mr. Taylor said Mr. Thomson was willing
to deed the lift station, force main and necessary easements to the
Village and that Mr. Thomson would like to have the problem resolved
now. Mr. Sydow reviewed his knowledge of the lift station and force
main of the system and the Health Department approval for same.
Mayor Russell stated he thought the taps were to be considered as
a part of the additional available plant capacity and not the
expansion. Mr. Robert Sylvester said the contributors for the
plant expansion are willing to pursue the plan but they did not
have any plans to offer for the Council's consideration tonight.
The Village Attorney suggested that perhaps Mr.
Thomson would be willing to give the Village the right to purchase
96 of his taps in the expansion when approval is given for the
proposed plant expansion. Councilman Little asked Mr. Sydow for.
a direct answer on the question of the adequacy of the lift station
and force main and Mr. Sydow said in his opinion they were adequate
to handle the additional proposed 96 units. The Village Attorney
stated it was his opinion that the 96 taps would not be an extension
of the Village's existing sewer system and if the Council should
agree to granting the 96 taps to Mr. Thomson, it should be approved
subject to the various control agencies written opinion that it
would not be considered an extension of the system. Cunningham
moved, seconded by Little that the Village grant Mr. Paul Thomson
a permit for nin -six (96) sewer taps to the Village sewer
system subject to~he written opinion of the Palm Beach County
Health Department, State of Florida Department of Pollution Control
and the Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District, that they
have no objection and do not consider it an extension of the
Village's existing sewer system, and (2) that Mr. Thomson give the
Village of Tequesta an option to purchase his share of his taps
under the 50,000 GPD expansion when it is approved by reimbursing
him for his cost for the same; and (3) that the Village Sewer
Department Consulting Engineer approve the condition of the
existing force train and lift station located partially on and
10-10-72 - 3
-3-
through Mr. Thomson~s property, and the adequacy of the easements
for ingress and egress to the lift station and force main prior to
acceptance of the force main, lift station and easements by the
Village. Following further discussion on the matter Mayor Russell
called for the vote on the motion which was as follows:
Frank - For the Motion
Little - For the Motion
Cunningham - For the Motion
Russell - For the Motion
Barr - Against the Motion
and the motion was thereby passed 4-l.
The Village Manager advised the Council of a request
for forty-two (42) taps from DiVosta Construction Company for a
new condominium to be constructed on Jupiter Island on the former
Forest Smith property. A check in the amount of $8,400.00
accompanied the application. Frank moved, seconded by Cunningham
and unanimously passed that the DiVosta Construction Company
application for forty-two (42) sewer taps be approved.
Councilman Frank again questioned why the Village is
still trying to hold onto the plant and not turn it over to ENCON.
The Dillage is still waiting for a reply to its questions in this
regard submitted to ENCON at the August 28, 1972 Workshop Meeting
to discuss transferring the plant to ENCON.
There being no further business, the Special Meeting
~,ras adjourned at 9:17 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,