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

meeting was recessed at 11: 15 and reconvened at I a. m. 11: 25 a. m. Discussion of draft Interlocal Agreement on the transfer of wastewater to the city of Fort Walton Beach for treatment and disposal Mr. Holley said the Board has received working papers from Fort Walton Beach on the transfer of wastewater for treatment and disposal. Mr. Mark Van Hala, Public Works Director for the City of Fort Walton Beach, explained that during the meeting yesterday with DEP Department of Environmental Protection) the concerns were the fact there will be two customers with one having the collection site and the other concern was capacity. Mr. Littrell said DEP informed those attending yesterday' s meeting they had been involved with other customers where the wastewater is shut off by the entity owning the system. DEP had concerns that sometime in the future everybody has a big disagreement and Fort Walton Beach does not want to treat the wastewater and turns off the valves. The valves are there for maintenance should the need to disconnect arise. There are still issues about the amount of flow the city can accommodate. The city staff has told the county it can accept a greater capacity in the summer than in the winter. If the county is not going to pump the same amount all the time, the flow will need to be regulated ~ nd values will be necessary. Mr . Littrell continued, saying at this point in negotiations seasonal flow is an issue. Mr. Littrell said DEP did express concerns regarding the valves because of their experiences with other groups. Mr. Covey said he would think there would be state control over someone closing a valve simply because they don' t want to service the other party. Mr. Hala said DEP was being cautious. Van As they progressed through the discussions, nothing new was brought up. Mr. Van Hala J stressed valves are needed for operational maintenance. Mr. contains Tucker items wanted the to Board know if agrees the or letter disagrees from with. Mr. Silverboard October 12, 1999 - 13- Minute Book 43, Page 288 Board of county Commissioners Meeting Mr. Holley said the Board has not had an opportunity to respond to Mr. Silverboard' s letter. He would like to sit down and go through the letter point by point. Mr. Nicholson said he would like to see the Board enter into an agreement or say we are not going to do that. Mrs. Riggs said opinion we have to have some answers she is of the to some items agreement being reached. prior to an If the Board can come to a decision, how quickly can the system be implemented. What sewage capacity can the city of Fort Walton Beach guarantee the county? Mr. Silverboard said No. 2 onlPage 2 states the capacity and the county could go up to an additional 200, 000 gallons in lots of 100, 000 gallons. Mrs. Riggs said the county is guaranteed 500, 000 gallons per day. She wanted to know about the summer and winter issue. Mr. Littrell said the issue is that in the past Fort Walton Beach staff has indicated there was a differeJnce in summer and winter capacity. If that is an absolute number the city is now giving the county, it is a better agreement. Mrs. Riggs said the city can guarantee 500, 000 gallons per day and possibly more. Mr. Silverboard said that is correct. Mr. Van Hala said he would like to see the agreement and then obtain the permit. Mr. Carnathan wanted to know where the valves would be located. Mr. Hala replied on the county side north of Gap Creek. Van Mr. Silverboard added between the county' s main and the city' s main. Mr. Carnathan wanted to know where the wastewater is being taken from. Mr. Silverboard said it is not being taken from Okaloosa Island. Mr. Littrell said it will be taken from the Beal Parkway and the Sunset pump stations. Mr. sil verboard said further need to be made regarding the He does not negotiations will area. know how long this will take. Mr. Tucker wanted to know if it will take 60 days, 90 days or how long it will take to reach an agreement. Mr. Holley said he does not have a draft inter local agreement. Mr. Tucker said he wants to move as quickly as possible without holding anything up. Mrs. Riggs said she is feeling some pressure regarding a time frame. The Board instructed staff to negotiate with Fort Walton Beach regarding this issue on October 5, 1998. October 12, 1999 - 14- Minute Book 43, Page289 Board of County Commissioners Meeting  The group agreed to discuss the item further during the 9: 00 a. m. November 2 meeting in Fort Walton Beach. Mr. Nicholson wanted to know if the terms of the agreement are subject to negotiations. Mr. silv~rboard replied he would prefer 20 years. Mr. Nicholson asked the County Manager to go over the proposal. I Mr. sewer said the city finds itself in two areas in water and Carnathan service in the Kenwood and Mooney Road areas. part and the city has part. The county has He asked if the county will consider possibly turning over a portion to the city in these two area. Both the county and the city are there and operating. Mr. Carnathan said if the city is given an opportunity to bid that section of solid waste, they can take care of it without adding any equipment and will also increase the level of service. He said he would like to hear back from the county if the county is receptive to this idea. Mr. Nicholson said more input will be needed, adding that Ms. O' Dell is not present. Mr. Nicholson said the Board can look at Mr. Carnathan' s suggestion; however, they want input from the residents. Mr. Sansom advised something similar was done in Niceville with a large unincorporated area dealing with sewer lines but not solid waste. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11: 55 a. m. NEWMAN C. BRACKIN DENNIS~" NICK" NICHOLSON, CHAIRMAN CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS These minutes were transcribed by Fairrol Boley.} J October 12, 1999 - 15- Minute Book 43, Page290 Board of County Commissioners Meeting  SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES - ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY DEVELOPMENT- OKALOOSACOUNTY UPDATED OCTOBER 6, 1998 I March, 1995 Okaloosa County formally presents its proposal to utilize Lightwood Knot Creek as a source of surface water, to Eglin Air Force Base Encroachment Committee and requests a 55 acre site for a water treatment plant and permission to withdraw water. May, 1995 Eglin responds to Okaloosa County' s request by proposing that the County and the RUA form a regional working group with representatives of Eglin, NWFWMD, and Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties. July, 1995 In a formal meeting the RUA designates Okaloosa County as the lead entity and point of contact between the RUA and Eglin concerning the matter of the development of alternative water supplies for Okaloosa County. July, 1995 In a letter to the RUA, Eglin Encroachment Committee acknowledges that Okaloosa is the only county with an identified long-term need to withdraw water from Eglin and agrees to " staff Okaloosa County' s request to determine if the Eglin Mission would be impacted." December, 1995 Eglin advises Okaloosa County that three ( 3) requests have been received for same 55 acres and suggests a January, 1996 meeting to consider alternative plant sites. The Lightwood Knot Creek withdrawal issue is placed on hold. May, 1996 Eglin advises they are not supportive of the withdrawal of water from Lightwood Knot Creek but would consider other options for the development of additional water supplies on Eglin in support of the local communities provided that a working group is formed to receive input from other interested \vater systems. Eglin is supportive of a comprehensive solution to water supply issues and is opposed to a " piecemeal" approach. I to which all RUA members were invited. June, 1996 Okaloosa County hosted a meeting of the " Long Range Water Supply Planning Working Group"