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

At this meeting presentations concerning NEPA, Eglin' s mission, anticipated water needs of the County, Eglin and Hurlburt, and Eglin real estate leasing requirements were given. Following the presentations there were extensive discussions pertaining to the integration of the needs of all water purveyors in the planning process. Eglin does not want to deal with individual requests. Page 1 of6  SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES - CONT' D July, 1996 Okaloosa County hosted the second meeting ofthe long range water supply planning working group. The NWFWMD made a presentation concerning the Floridan Aquifer and the need to ( I) conserve I existing supplies, ( 2) develop alternative sources of future supply, and ( 3) " flatten" withdrawal cones by spreading future well spacing. The City of Fort Walton presented its analysis of future water needs as did Mary Ester and Niceville. Eglin reiterated that the overall picture must be considered in order to ensure meeting the larger water needs for longer periods. It was agreed that the RUA would be approached to fund a needs study using monies previously contributed by Okaloosa County and other central subregion RUA members. August 26, 1996 RUA approves funding for a needs study update of the south-central Subregion. $ 45, 000 paid into the RUA by benefitting member agencies, are to be paid to NWFWMD for the update. The Water Management District will subcontract preparation of the study to FSU. November 6, 1996 WRP, Inc., a partnership of the South Walton Utility Company and Destin Water Users, requests financial assistance from the RUA for conducting a study into the feasibility of using reverse osmosis for desalination of lower Floridan water. The request was approved. November 27, 1996 Okaloosa County submits the initial working draft of its Integrated Water Resources Plan (IWRP) to the Northwest Florida Water Management District. The IWRP ranks an inland well field in the Upper Floridan Aquifer on Eglin very high in terms of cost- effectiveness and implementability. January 30, 1997 First draft ofFSU report " Population and Water Use in Southern Okaloosa County" funded by RUA was distributed for review and comment. February 5, 1997 WRP, Inc. writes the Eglin Encroachment Committee requesting consideration by Eglin of the water I needs of the WRP. Inland wells or surface water intakes on Eglin are proposed as possibilities. April 2, 1997 VRP, Inc., in a letter to the Long Range Water Supply Working Group, requests assistance from the RUA in establishing discussions with Eglin concerning the withdrawal of ground or surface water on Eglin by WRP, Inc. Apparently this request resulted from Eglin' s Notice to WRP, Inc. that all withdrawal requests should come to Eglin through RUA. Page 2 of6  SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES - CONT' D April 25, 1997 In a meeting with the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer staff the Water Management District strongly suggests that the County adopt an alternative or supplemental water supply plan for South I Okaloosa which can be under construction within three ( 3) years. It was the consensus of County and District staff that the only viable alternative with a reasonable likelihood of being under construction within three ( 3) years was the well field in Mid County with transmission pipeline south through Eglin. June 13, 1997 The final draft ofFSU' s " Population and Water Use in Southern Okaloosa County" is published. July 31, 1997 : NWFWMD Board of Directors gives final approval to new consumptive use permit for Garniers. This is an interim permit preparatory to issuance of a new 20 year permit covering Mid County, Gamiers, and County \ Vest. Eglin concurrence with the transmission main easement is crucial to project implementation. August 6, 1997 Okaloosa County submits estimates oflong term supplemental supply needs for South Okaloosa to NWF\ VMD. Mid County well field can meet anticipated short term needs for all utilities if needed, but not adequate for long term ( 2006 and beyond) needs of non county utilities. August 8, 1997 The Northwest Florida Water Management District issues a three ( 3) year renewal of the Consumptive Use Permit for Okaloosa County' s Gamiers system. This CUP renewal grants no additional water withdrawal and contains a specific provision requiring Okaloosa County to discuss with Eglin Air Force Base officials the development of Floridan Aquifer wells along the corridor of the 85/ 123 pipeline. The County is also required to discuss with other South Okaloosa utilities participation in the NorthernlEglin initiative. September 18, 1997 Okaloosa County, in a meeting with the Eglin Encroachment Committee, formally presents its plan 1) for the pipeline to Mid County and 2) Floridan wells along the 85/ 123 corridor. I October 1, 1997 Okaloosa County briefs the RUA on the meeting with the Eglin Encroachment Committee. The proposed well field in Mid- County and the proposed corridor wells are discussed. It \vas explained that the proposed Mid County well field was not intended to meet the long term needs of non- county utilities. It was further explained that the corridor well component of the proposed project was intended to meet the needs of the cities. Page 3 of 6  SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES - CONT' D November 6, 1997 The Eglin Encroachment Committee in a letter to the Director ofOkaloosa County Water and Sewer, advises that local approval has been granted for both the proposed pipeline and the proposed I Floridan wells along the 85/ 123 corridor subject to environmental clearances, etc. January 26, 1998 In a conference call with Okaloosa County Management, the purpose of which was to discuss substituting the proposed corridor wells for the Mid County wells thus eliminating the need to construct the pipeline all the way to Mid County, the \ Vater Management District advised that the County should shift the discussion of the corridor wells from Floridan Aquifer wells to Sand and Gravel Aquifer wells. February 2, 1998 Okaloosa County submits formal Consumptive Use Permit ( CUP) Application with all supporting documentation to NWFWMD. This application was for a 20 year permit for the Mid County Water System and included six additional water supply wells and the pipeline to deliver supplemental water south along the Hwy 85/123 corridor. March 26, 1998 Okaloosa County is granted a 20 year CUP for the Mid County well field by the NWFWMD governing board. Permit includes the six additional wells and the pipeline. April 1, 1998 Monthly meetings of the Central Sub- Region \ Vater Supply Working Group resume and have continued. July 16, 1998 The Working Group meets with the Eglin Encroachment Committee to discuss 1) the renewal of Eglin' s participation in the working group, 2) the identification of any supplemental water needs by Eglin ( including Hurlburt), and 3) the Water Management District's proposal to change the corridor wells from Floridan Aquifer to Sand and Gravel Aquifer wells. October 5, 1998 Ajoint workshop was held between the OkaloosaCounty Board of County Commissioners and the I City Councils of the Cities of Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther. The topic was the Alternate Water Supply project. October 8, 1998 Written response received from the Eglin Encroachment Committee on the issue of sand & gravel aquifer wells along the pipeline corridor. Response was negative for sand & gravel wells, but letter explained that Eglin still supported the concept of Floridan Aquifer wells along the corridor. Page 4 of6  SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES - CONT' D October 19, 1998 I Letters sent to all coastal water utilities within the Central Sub- Region asking for a written response as to whether they wished to reserve capacity in the proposed pipeline project. Only reply was from City of Destin, which expressed interest, but did not supply requested quantities needed. Since then, no further serious interest from City of Destin. Destin Water Users has indicated that they intend to continue with their own project in partnership with South Walton Utilities. March 15, 1999 First formal proposed draft Interlocal Agreement sent to Cities of Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther on participation in Alternate Water Supply project. Proposal included formulas for the Cities to purchase capacity in the pipeline. The parties involved were ultimately unable to reach agre~ment on this draft. July 15, 1999 Second draft Interlocal Agreement sent to the Cities. This proposal was for a modified take or pay type agreement with no ownership in capacity. August 1999 Cities of Fort .Walton Beach and Mary Esther form the Fort Walton Beach- Mary Esther Regional Water Supply System and apply for Consumptive Use Permit from the Northwest Florida \ Vater Management District for permission to construct Floridan Aquifer wells along the proposed pipeline corridor. \ Vater Management District returns application as " incomplete." October 6, 1999 Written response from Cities on draft Interlocal received by O. C.\ V. S. staff. Response included specific recommendations for revisions. October 12, 1999 Second joint workshop between the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners and the City Councils of Fort Walton Beach and Mary Esther to discuss the proposed draft Interlocal Agreement. I Page 5 of6