Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 10-12-1999 Joint — reading text

present that the county wants to be in control. The county has never taken that position. This is a joint effort and the county is willing to work with the cities on all three options. Mr. Carnathan said he understands the county has taken some steps and that the cities are not ready to make all the decisions on our side. The cities are asking the county for help and not to box them in. He wants to maintain the sovereignty of the City of Fort Walton Beach and these are decisions that will have to be made by the city Council. Mr. Carnathan expressed the opinion a small working group outside the RUA could develop the project jointly. He said they are not trying to be obstinate as he knows the county is trying to be helpful. This endeavor is very complicated as there are three sovereign entities with different needs. He again suggested creating a working group outside the RUA. Mr. Littrell said we have to be under construction by the year 2000. However, there is indication the deadline will be extended by one year. J Mr. Nicholson expressed concerns about all the residents. It boils down to the cost of paying for the pipeline. Mr. Holley said staff needs direction from the Board regarding doing some rate work at this time. without doing some additional rate work, the county will be unable to provide bulk rate costs to October 12, 1999 - 9- Minute Book 43, Page284 Board of County Commissioners Meeting thecities which is what they want. The only rate they have is a commercial rate. Mr. Dunn suggested starting with a work group. Mrs. Riggs said she is getting mixed messages. She said Mr. Crews says he does not feel part of this. a Ms. Baggett wants to wait and see the model. Mrs. Riggs said she does not mind meeting once a month. Mr. Carnathan said he does not feel the county can wait. Mrs. Riggs said that the county is just like the cities. They are having to make a stab in the dark and make a decision. Mr. Sansom said no matter what the solution is, some questions need to be answered. Is it the cities position they will not buy water from the county but want to have some ownership in the system? As Mr. Carnathan said earlier, they currently provide water for the cities and are reluctant to give that up. The cities may want to buy water wholesale from the county. The cities may want a separate pipeline or bigger pipeline at some future date. If the county makes an investment to provide a larger than 24- inch pipeline, the county would not want the cities at that time to decide they want to provide their own water. Mr. Sansom said he is of the opinion the cities know the answers to some of these questions already. Mr. Kelly said the city could have ownership in the 24- inch pipeline. Mr. Littrell said the capacity for furnishing 650, 000 gallons of water per day to Mary Esther and 1. 9 million gallons pre day to Fort Walton Beach is built into the 24- inch pipeline. That extra capacity is included in the interlocal agreement. The cities do not want to make an investment at this time; however, the agreement has provisions that in the future so if the cities desire to purchase additional water, the county will sell it to them. The cities have made some counter- proposals. Mr. Littrell stressed the current proposal has some excess capacity that can be provided to the two cities. When the pipeline is built, we will have the capacity but not the water source. The discussions continued. Mr. Carnathan advised this issue changes constantly as technology changes. Anything the county works out with the City of Mary Esther has nothing to do with taking care of Fort Walton Beach, Destin or other entities in the future. October 12, 1999 - 10- Minute Book 43, Page 285 Board of County Commissioners Meeting  Mr. Silverbaord said the central group has more people that don' t care about this issue. There needs to be a meeting between the three parties. Mr. Tucker wanted to know if everyone can agree on the county being the " sole supplier." I Mr. Sansom said the cities need to consider what will happen if the county builds a 24- inch pipeline with the cities of Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther having some authority, and then Destin wants in. If this is a regional system, it will affect Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther 50 years from now when we try to sell water to neighbors. If the cities' position is they want the county to be the provider, the cities will be out of the picture. sole If the cities have ownership, they will also have authority and responsibility. The percentage of water needs for the future will change. At some future date Mary Esther may be the area that is exploding. Mr. Lulue said he appreciates the Board' s attitude. If they had information regarding the model saying the City of Mary Esther' s water supply will be reduced by 20%, they could make a decision. He wanted to know if there is any way decisions can be postponed until we have the model. Mr. Sansom said no matter what the state says and no matter what the future capacity is, the question the cities want to answer is whether or not they want to purchase water or if they want ownership of the system. Mr. Kelly wanted to know if this is an option for the cities to consider. Mr. Nicholson said his concerns are to provide water for the citizens and he had thought the~ cities would not want to participate. Mr. Carnathan wanted to know Mr. Nicholson' s position regarding participation by the cities. Mr. Nicholson said he is of the opinion that ownership of the pipeline was the best way for the cities to go but stepped back after he understood the cities did not want to participate if they don' t need water. Mr Dunn wanted to know if the Board is opposed to the cities participating. J Mr. Holley said the first proposal included the cities buying a share in the pipeline. Having a pipeline and having the cities owning capacity in the pipeline doesn' t put any water in it. October 12, 1999 - 11- Minute Book 43i Page 286 Board of County commissioners Meeting Mr. Carnathan said each issue is contingent upon something else. He said it is important to know who is putting water in what pipeline. He wanted to know if the county is interested in helping the cities in accomplishing the long- term water supply needs for the south end of the county. Mr. Nicholson said he is interested in providing water for the citizens and he had thought the cities had stepped back from wanting ownership in the system. If the cities want to be part of the system 20 years from now, they will need to be a participant. He was somewhat surprised when he learned the cities did not want to have part ownership. However, he does understand the cities not wanting to spent money if they never need the water. If you spend the money and never need the water, you have made a bad decision. It is a difficult decision, but it is a process he thought the cities had discussed. Mr. Dunn said he does not think consumption or population will decrease. 4 Mr. Sansom advised if the cities are participants, that there should be a stipulation in the agreement that water capacity will always be reserved for the member cities. Mr. Nicholson said Destin said they didn' t want to participate and even put that in writing. Now they say they might be interested. Mr. Carnathan agreed that some decisions need to be made. Mr. Holley said staff thought they were providing the best option to cities by the county' s willingness the to build the system without an investment from the cities. Mr. Lulue said that is good option. a He said he understands the pipeline can go from 24 inches to 30 inches. He wanted to know if a 27- inch pipeline would be feasible. Mr. Littrell said 24- and 30- inch pipelines are standard sizes. Mr. Tucker said he will vote for part ownership although it will cost the city up front. Mr. Crews said he would like to have ownership on those part corridor wells. He asked why thepeople t buy the pipe and be can' owners of the water. He has a problem with the county getting the permit for the water in the corridors. Mr. Carnathan said the issues can' t be solved as we don' t know where the water is corning from. He suggested there is a need to meet again and return to the table with some specifics after each of the entities has had an opportunity to meet individually. October 12, 1999 - 12- Minute Book 43, Page287 Board of County Commissioners Meeting  Mr. Dunn said he needs a copy of the minutes from today' s meeting. Following a brief discussion, it was determined the next workshop to discuss water and sewer issues will be held at 9: 00 a. m. on November 2, 1999 at Fort Walton Beach City Hall. RECESS: The