Owners face $10,000 sewer fee (Citrus County)

Owners face $10,000 sewer fee By Terry Witt

Citrus County Commissioner Gary Bartell will tell Chassahowitzka residents Wednesday night the county may have to impose a $10,000 property assessment on every home to fund a planned central water and sewer system.

That’s the bad news.

But he also will tell them time is running out to start construction on the project, and that state and federal lawmakers are attempting to secure additional grant funds to lower the assessment by the time it has to be imposed in a about a year.

“Right now, my general feeling is if we’ll go with the $10,000 and we’ll push hard to get federal and state grants, that will help us buy down the cost to residents,” Bartell said.

That’s as good as the news will get.Bartell plans to meet with residents at the Chassahowitzka Fire Department at 7 p.m. Wednesday to explain the status of the water and sewer project. He has kept them advised through town meetings since the project was first proposed.

The county was awarded about $3.8 million in grants for the sewer portion of the project. It has secured a $600,000 grant and $3.1 million loan for the water portion. But the sole bidder on the project, Danella Inc., has proposed doing the work for about $11.1 million.

County officials negotiated the total bid down to about $10.2 million, but the bid remains higher than the available revenue. More money would have to be borrowed.That’s why the proposed assessment is high.The sewer grants were awarded in the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, and the money has to be spent soon or returned to the state, according to Bartell. He said construction should be under way by the end of this year.

Bartell has pushed for a central water and sewer system since learning the results of a University of South Florida study, now several years old, that found septic tanks are causing coliform bacteria pollution in the Chassahowitzka River. The study found indicators in wells that coliform bacteria pollution may be a problem in drinking water.“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of opposition to the high price, but what are the options?” Bartell said. “We need to either fish or cut bait as far as I’m concerned.”State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, has promised to introduce legislation in the spring session to fund the remainder of the project, but is making no promises. He said the Legislature already has provided the county with about $3 million in grants, and the county is not offering to match the grant money it is requesting.

But Fasano, whose district includes Citrus County west of U.S. 19, said he will submit the legislation, recognizing that he also will get requests for water quality funding from the other counties he represents — Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties.“If I get $4 million for Chassahowitzka, I won’t get anything for the other counties,” Fasano said. “I’ll put in for the full amount and try to get as much as I can for the county.”Bartell said he reminded Fasano the Chassahowitzka River is a state water body, and cleaning up polluted state waters should be the responsibility of the Legislature.

The river empties into the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. Fasano said he understands those facts, and believes it will help him argue for a grant from the Legislature.

AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR CHASSAHOWITZKA PROJECT State legislative funding for sewer portion — $2,750,000; Southwest Florida Water Management District funding for sewer portion — $1 million; Community Development Block Grant sewer grant funding — $90,000.n Community Development Block Grant for water — $600,000; state revolving fund loan for water — $3,140,000.n Bid with Danella Inc. has been negotiated down from the original $11.1 million to about $10.2 million.County Commissioner Gary Bartell will meet with Chassahowitzka residents at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Chassahowitzka Fire Department. He has invited local legislators and officials from the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Florida Department of Environmental Protection to attend.

Conserving Water Becomes An Even More Pressing Need (Polk County)

Published Friday, October 28, 2005

By MICHAEL W. FREEMAN
The Reporter Editor

POINCIANA -- At a time when even President Bush is urging Americans to conserve energy and consider driving less, the issue of conservation of natural resources may be more prominent today than at any time in decades.

In Polk County, though, conservation has been an issue for years, although the focus hasn't been on rising gasoline prices, or natural gas or oil costs.

The issue has been water conservation, which became a serious problem for Polk County commissioners three years ago when rapid development in Northeast Polk led to overpumping in the Four Corners area.

Polk County commissioners responded by instituting a series of conservation measures, but they're not alone in urging residents to conserve as much water as possible. The Florida Governmental Utilities Association has begun doing the same thing.

Dieudonne Thomas, the community service representative for the FGUA, recently made a presentation before a local business group, the Poinciana Area Council. The council held its monthly luncheon meeting at Solivita.

Thomas said her goal wasn't to offer quick answers on specific water bills, but to educate residents on what they could do to keep water usage down -- and, by extension, lower their own bills.

"One of the main goals of the FGUA is to stress water conservation, including use of reclaimed water," she said, adding that using reclaimed water for landscaping can be very cost effective.

"The Solivita golf course uses 100 percent reclaimed water," Thomas said.

FGUA operates four utility services in Florida, including one main system in Poinciana. Another part of their mission, Thomas said, is "protecting our natural resources and educating residents."

Conserving water in the home isn't all that difficult, she said. While most new homes have water-efficient plumbing fixtures and toilets, refitting these fixtures in older homes can also decrease a utility bill by reducing the amount of water people use each day.

Besides changing plumbing hardware, other tips are:


Fixing leaky faucets because one slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons of water a day.


Fixing leaky toilets, which can save more than 30,000 gallons a year with each repair.


Planning lawn and garden watering around local watering regulations, which can reduce water consumption by up to 50 percent.


Choosing native plants naturally adapted to the Florida environment for gardens because these plants can have their water needs provided by natural rainfall patterns.


Limiting garden hose use by considering a "drip irrigation" system or "micro-sprinkler" for shrubs and flower beds that need watering;


Limiting shower time to five minutes.


Washing dishes and laundry only in full loads.

Conservation measures, Thomas said, can help people realize a savings over time on their utility bills.

"We're here to let you know how practicing good habits can help preserve one of our most natural resources," she said.

FGUA can be reached by calling 877-552-3482.

In 2002, the Southwest Florida Water Management District threatened to impose a fine of more than $500,000 if Polk didn't reduce water consumption in fast-growing Four Corners.

The fine was waived in October 2003 after Polk commissioners instituted a series of water conservation measures.

Michael Freeman is the editor of The Reporter. He can be reached at michael.freeman@the ledger.com or 863-421-5577

FGUA Board Backs Down and Delays Decision on Lehigh Expansion

FGUA Board Backs Down and Delays Decision on Lehigh Expansion.
Vote Expected at the Board Meeting in Lehigh on Friday, November 4th.
By: Jim Fleming & Robert Anderson

Orlando, Florida:
On Thursday, October 27th, the Board of the Florida Government Utility Authority, (FGUA), the entity that controls the water and sewer system in Lehigh Acres, voted to delay a decision on two important issues affecting the planned expansion of water and sewer service in the community.

After pressure from Robert Anderson, president of Lehigh Acres Watchdog, Inc., the three member Board (with the Lee County representative absent), voted to suspend the meeting and reconvene in Lehigh Acres on November 4, 2005. The rescheduled meeting will be held at the East County Regional Library beginning at 10:00 AM. All residents are strongly urged to attend this meeting which will affect thousands of Lehigh Acres property owners.

Concerned Lehigh Acres citizens who defied a Lee County curfew to attend the meeting in Orlando, also included civic activists, Jim Fleming and Bill and Bonnie Bracken. "We have to keep chasing this FGUA Board all over Florida to make sure they don't impose five figure assessments on our Lehigh Acres neighbors without us being involved or knowing about it," Fleming said.

Anderson scolded the Board for canceling the previous meeting in Lehigh. Anderson reminded the board that "Decisions that could have such a great impact on Lehigh need to made right there in our community so more residents can speak and have their voices heard." Anderson added that Hurricane Wilma made it even more difficult for residents of Lehigh to attend the Orlando meeting, "Jim Fleming, Mr. and Mrs Bracken and I will be breaking curfew by driving back tonight."

Noticeably absent at the Board meeting was newly appointed member, Jim Lavendar, the Lee County Public Works director. He is expected to be in attendance at the Lehigh Acres meeting on November 4th.

Items affecting Lehigh Acres that were approved at the Board meeting included:

* The acceptance of Lee County as a fourth member of the FGUA Board, and the ratification of the interlocal agreement, which had already been signed by Lee County. This agreement allows Lee County to purchase the Lehigh system in the future.

* The replacement of a force main on Joel Boulevard.

* The expansion at of the well field at the Mirror Lakes Water Treatment Plant

* A contract extension with Severn Trent until February 1st 2006 to ease the transition to newly approved subcontractor, US Water/Wade Trim.

At the delayed Lehigh meeting on November 4th, the FGUA Board is expected to vote on:

* A $25 million bond issue to help pay some of the cost of the planned $56.3 million Phase One expansion plan of the Lehigh system.

* All bonding resolutions affecting FGUA's operations and expansion plans in Lehigh Acres and Golden Gate.

* All operations contracts with US Water/Wade Trim, despite what Anderson has repeatedly called inherent "conflicts of interests with FGUA's system managers.

At the urging of concerned citizens in Lehigh and other communities served by FGUA, the board is also looking into alternative financing methods including using lines of credit instead of bonds to fund their expansion plans.

Jim Fleming has asked FGUA to delay incurring any further debt that the Lehigh Acres taxpayers would have to inherit if the county buys what he calls, "The dilapidated and over capacity Lehigh system." At a previous FGUA board meeting Fleming reminded the members that the Lehigh sewerage treatment plant was so far over capacity that it was caught dumping millions of gallons of treated effluent into the Able Canal.

"Why are you continuing to issue letters of capacity to residential developers in Lehigh Acres, when you know that you can't possibly service them at current levels?" Fleming questioned.

County looks at buying utilities (Citrus County)

County looks at buying utilities By Terry Witt

Acting on their lawyer’s advice, Citrus County commissioners hired two consultants on Tuesday to examine whether the county should purchase 11 local utilities from the Florida Governmental Utility Authority.

The board voted unanimously to hire the Tallahassee law firm of Rose, Sundstrom & Bentley as the lead consultant on a team that will look at the pros and cons of the purchase and whether it could impact customer bills.

County Attorney Robert Battista recommended the company for the $50,000 first phase of the study, saying the firm has a long history of handling utility purchases and could give commissioners the data and recommendations they need to make an informed decision on a complex transaction.

Battista also recommended hiring Burton & Associates, a rate consultant, to study the impact on utility rates. The rate consultant will work closely with Rose, Sundstrom & Bentley. The 11 utilities, once owned by Florida Water Services Inc., have varying rates for water and sewer services.

FGUA currently owns the water and sewer systems in Sugarmill Woods, Pine Ridge and Citrus Springs and eight other Citrus County communities, but it has been criticized for not being accountable to its customers or county government.The government utility group was heavily criticized earlier this year when it announced plans to impose property assessments in Pine Ridge and Citrus Springs to pay for line extensions. The Pine Ridge portion of the proposal was later eliminated.

However, customers complained they had no one to whom they could appeal for help since elected officials do not control the organization. The FGUA initially said the county had no power to stop the assessments, but later relented when commissioners insisted their interlocal agreement with FGUA gave them the power to regulate rates.

The question of whether the assessments are a rate has never been settled, but FGUA is allowing the Citrus County Water and Wastewater Authority to review the assessments planned for Citrus Springs. FGUA has been granted interim authority to impose the assessments until a final decision is rendered by the WWA in November.

FGUA Systems Manager Robert Sheets told commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting that FGUA wants to form a Citrus County citizen utility advisory board to improve accountability. He said the board would meet monthly with FGUA.

Sheets said Sugarmill Woods, Pine Ridge and Citrus Springs, which have 70 percent of the customer base, would each have two members on the board. Two at-large members from other communities served by FGUA would serve on the board.However, Commission Chairwoman Vicki Phillips said FGUA had lost its accountability, and she felt it was prudent to begin looking a whether the 11 systems should come under county ownership. Sheets said FGUA considers itself a partner with the county and will cooperate with the study.In other business:n Public Safety Director Charles Poliseno reported the addition of paid firefighters has reduced response times.

He said the time it takes for fire trucks to reach the street after the call is received (chute time) has been reduced from a previous average of 6 minutes 13 seconds to 1 minute 6 seconds for career firefighters.Poliseno said the actual response time — the time it takes to reach the scene of a fire — was previously 11 minutes 17 seconds, but he said career firefighters are responding within 7 minutes.

However, Poliseno said volunteer firefighters continue to be an extremely important part of the fire-rescue service, and efforts have been stepped up to recruit more volunteers. The board voted 3-2 in assent of the concept of recruiting physicians with lower impact fees. The board instructed staff to develop the criteria the county would use to reduce impact fees for physician recruitment. A portion of the impact fees would be paid using occupational license revenue.

Phillips and Commissioner Joyce Valentino voted against the measure, saying they didn’t think the county should give impact fee breaks to doctors when no other taxpayers in the county would be entitled to a similar reduction.

However, the chief executive officers of Citrus Memorial Hospital and Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center said the federal government lists Citrus County as being “underserved” when it comes to physicians.

They said the county has a 27-doctor deficit overall. Citing one statistic, they said the county has a need for three additional pediatricians.

Citrus County Commission notes -----

Copyright Times Publishing Co. Oct 27, 2005

Commissioners also voted unanimously Tuesday to hire a Tallahassee law firm to help the county evaluate whether to purchase the Florida Governmental Utility Authority's 11 Citrus County systems.

County Attorney Robert "Butch" Battista recommended the Rose, Sundstrom & Bentley firm, which he said had particular expertise in evaluating and handling utility purchases.

The commission voted to set aside $50,000 for the first phase of its study, which will also include an investigation of rates by St. Augustine-based Burton & Associates.

FGUA systems manager Robert Sheets said the utility would work with the county during the evaluation process.

Commissioner Jim Fowler asked Sheets whether the FGUA had any plans to improve its accountability.

"We have learned from the mistakes we've made here," Sheets said.

He said the utility plans to set up an advisory board including one resident from Pine Ridge, one from Sugarmill Woods, one from Citrus Springs and two at-large members from other areas of the county.

But Commission Chairwoman Vicki Phillips said she still saw conflicts in the FGUA's operations.
"The FGUA, unfortunately, has lost accountability," she said.

Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at cshoichet@sptimes.com or 860-7309.

State Utilities Group Urges Businesses, Residents to Conserve Water

Published Thursday, October 20, 2005

State Utilities Group Urges Businesses, Residents to Conserve Water

By MICHAEL W. FREEMAN The Reporter Editor POINCIANA -- At a time when even President Bush is urging Americans to conserve energy and consider driving less, the issue of conservation of natural resources may be more prominent today than at any time in decades.In Polk County, though, conservation has been an issue for years, although the focus hasn't been on rising gasoline prices, or natural gas or oil costs. The issue has been water conservation, which became a serious problem for Polk County commissioners three years ago when rapid development in Northeast Polk led to over pumping in the Four Corners area.

Polk County commissioners responded by instituting a series of conservation measures, but they're not alone in urging residents to conserve as much water as possible. Last week, the Florida Governmental Utilities Association was doing the same thing.Dieudonne Thomas, the community service representative for the FGUA, made a presentation before a local business group, the Poinciana Area Council. The council held its monthly luncheon meeting at the Solivita ballroom.

In introducing Thomas, Lili Patrick, chairman of the council, said, "I'm sure she's going to explain to all of us why our water bills are going up."Thomas said her goal wasn't to offer quick answers on specific water bills, but to educate residents on what they could do to keep water usage down -- and, by extension, lower their own bills."One of the main goals of the FGUA is to stress water conservation, including use of reclaimed water," she said, adding that using reclaimed water for landscaping can be very cost effective."The Solivita golf course uses 100 percent reclaimed water," Thomas said.

FGUA operates four utility services in Florida, including one main system in Poinciana. Another part of their mission, Thomas said, is "protecting our natural resources and educating residents."Conserving water in the home isn't all that difficult, she said. While most new homes have water-efficient plumbing fixtures and toilets, refitting these fixtures in older homes can also decrease a utility bill by reducing the amount of water people use each day.

Besides changing plumbing hardware, other tips are:

Fixing leaky faucets because one slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons of water a day.
Fixing leaky toilets, which can save more than 30,000 gallons a year with each repair.
Planning lawn and garden watering around local watering regulations, which can reduce water consumption by up to 50 percent.
Choosing native plants naturally adapted to the Florida environment for gardens because these plants can have their water needs provided by natural rainfall patterns.
Limiting garden hose use by considering a "drip irrigation" system or "micro-sprinkler" for shrubs and flower beds that need watering;
Limiting shower time to five minutes.
Washing dishes and laundry only in full loads.Conservation measures, Thomas said, can help people realize a savings over time on their utility bills."We're here to let you know how practicing good habits can help preserve one of our most natural resources," she said. "The next time you fill your glass of water, remember the FGUA is a part of your life and is working hard to preserve this resource."FGUA can be reached by calling 877-552-3482.

In 2002, the Southwest Florida Water Management District threatened to impose a fine of more than $500,000 if Polk didn't reduce water consumption in fast-growing Four Corners. The fine was waived in October 2003 after Polk commissioners instituted a series of water conservation measures.

Utilities panel puts off vote on Lehigh

Expansion measures will be decided Nov. 4 By JUSTIN ST. CLAIR JSTCLAIR@NEWS-PRESS.COM Published by news-press.com on October 28, 2005

ORLANDO — The board that controls Lehigh Acres' water and sewer system voted to delay deciding two key measures on a major expansion project Thursday so that the votes could be held at a newly scheduled meeting in Lehigh.

The Florida Governmental Utility Authority board will vote on a $25 million bond to help pay for expansion of the Lehigh system and renewal of the system's operations contract at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at the East County Regional Library.

Thursday's meeting was originally scheduled for Friday, Oct. 21, in Lehigh, but was rescheduled and moved because of the threat of Hurricane Wilma.

Lehigh resident and activist Robert Anderson, along with three other Lehigh residents, traveled to Orlando to be at the meeting to make sure Lehigh was represented.

Anderson told the three board members, who represent Polk, Citrus and Osceola Counties, that decisions that could have such a great impact on Lehigh need to be made there so more residents can speak.

"We want to be heard," Anderson said. He said the hurricane made it even more difficult for people to make it to Orlando for the 5 p.m. meeting."I will be breaking curfew driving back tonight," he said.

The meeting Thursday would have been the first in which Lee County had a representative on the board. But the representative, County Public Works Director Jim Lavendar, couldn't attend because he was involved in hurricane recovery efforts.

He is expected to attend the Nov. 4 meeting.The authority is planning a $56.3 million expansion in Lehigh aimed at slowing the booming number of wells and septic tanks in the area, which was platted in the 1950s and 1960s into thousands of mostly quarter-acre lots.

But that plan, and the possible assessments on landowners, has met with opposition from some residents and has spurred county commissioners to talk about purchasing the system and making their own expansion plans.

Board member Richard Wesch of Citrus County said more local people will be able to attend the Nov. 4 meeting.The board also approved a measure accepting Lee County as its fourth member and an agreement allowing the county to buy the system in the future.

Lee County has asked the authority to hold off taking on any debt that the county and its taxpayers would inherit if the county buys the troubled Lehigh system, which is operating near capacity and recently spilled treated wastewater into a canal near the treatment facility.

Lehigh Citizens Rally to Protest Water and Sewer Assessment Plans

By: Jim Fleming and Robert Anderson

Lehigh Acres, FL, October 20, 2005:

A "Citizens' Rally," organized by the Lehigh Acres Watchdog and Citizens United Against FGUA, was held at 6:30 PM, October 20, 2005 at the East Lee County regional Library on Gunnery Road in Lehigh Acres.

According to the group chairman, Mike Welch, the purpose of the rally was to inform the public of plans by Florida Government Utilities Authority (FGUA) and Lee County Government to expand water and sewer service in Lehigh Acres, at the local taxpayer’s expense. The rally was also originally planned to increase public awareness and involvement in an FGUA board of directors meeting that was scheduled for the following morning at the same location in Lehigh Acres.

For unknown reasons, FGUA abruptly canceled the meeting, and rescheduled it for Thursday, October 27, 2005 at 5:00 PM at the Holiday Inn Select at 5750 TG Lee Blvd. in Orlando. "It looks like they are trying to duck the firestorm that they are about to create here in Lehigh Acres with their outrageously expensive expansion plans," said meeting organizer, Robert Anderson, the president of Lehigh Acres Watchdog, Inc., who also said he plans to attend the FGUA board meeting in Orlando. "It's too important for the people of Lehigh Acres not to be represented at this major policy and decision making meeting that will affect all our pocketbooks," Anderson added.

During the two hour rally Mr. Anderson showed the audience a series of computer-generated slides and videos detailing FGUA's and Lee County's plans to expand the water and sewer system in the community, and the various methods that the Lehigh taxpayers and rate payers would involuntarily pay for such a system.

The presentation shed light on several issues related to FGUA including the recent dumping of treated effluent into Lehigh's canals and the overcapacity at their local sewerage treatment plant.

The opening video showed excerpts of an exchange between ECWCD Supervisor, Jim Fleming, and FGUA board members and managers at the September FGUA board meeting in Citrus County. In that video, Mr. Fleming asked if FGUA was issuing conveyance letters to developers in Lehigh Acres, indicating that the sewer plant had enough available capacity to serve all the new developments in Lehigh Acres. Despite FGUA's assurances to Mr. Fleming, at that meeting, Mr. Anderson subsequently uncovered documented evidence of at least three such conveyance letters issued to developers within the past two months.

"Why does FGUA continue to write letters of conveyance to developers when both the FGUA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection know that the current Lehigh Acres sewerage treatment plant is running so far overcapacity in some months that it has resorted to dumping effluent into our canals," Anderson asked.

Jim Fleming added that the 2.5 million gallon per day plant was accepting as much as 3.5 million gallons of wastewater a day in the summer months due to over development in Lehigh Acres and the intrusion of rainwater into the dilapidated sewer lines. "The current water and sewer customers in Lehigh Acres are not only paying for growth, they're also paying to treat excess rainwater," Fleming said. "That's an outrage."

Anderson, who showed excerpts from FGUA's own documents, revealed that FGUA had already planned special assessment bonds for 7.6 million dollars to pay for the expansion of water and sewer service to 414 more lots in Woodridge Preserve, the large single family development in Lehigh Acres, just off busy, dangerous, two-lane State Road 82.

Most of the discussion was devoted to the recently unveiled plans by the Lee County government to purchase the Lehigh Acres water and sewer system from FGUA.

FGUA has repeatedly stated that their price for the Lehigh system was $42 million. However, Mr. Anderson pointed out that FGUA continues to bond an additional $25 million dollars that Lee County will have to absorb, plus expenses for FGUA that are not included in the purchase price. Mr. Anderson asked, "Can Lee County afford to buy the utility at a price that could exceed $80 million? And, if so, how can the overburdened taxpayers of Lehigh Acres afford to bear that kind of long term indebtedness."

Anderson pointed out that two of FGUA's systems (Lehigh Acres and Golden Gate) are about to get Deep Well injection units (at a price of $7 million for Lehigh) to remove treated wastewater and dump it 2500 feet below ground. However, according to Anderson, deep well injection systems have been raising groundwater contamination issues on the east coast Florida especially in Miami-Dade County.

On the issue of FGUA's continuing bonded indebtedness, another video of the September FGUA board meeting was shown. In that video, Jim Fleming again addressed the board asking if the authority's managers had informed Lee County government of their plans to bond tens of millions of dollars in future debt that the county and the taxpayers would have to pay.

At the time FGUA system manager, Robert Sheets, hadn't notified Lee County of their bonding plans, but will be issuing resolutions for the parity debt at the FGUA board meeting in Orlando. FGUA has not yet scheduled a public hearing on these issues, and Robert Anderson told the audience to be vigilant about these hearings, and plan to attend in large numbers. "This is the most important pocketbook issue on the immediate horizon for the taxpayers of Lehigh Acres, Fleming added."One way or the other, we are going to be told to pay tens of millions of dollars for a system that we don't want, and nobody has proven that we need."

According to Robert Anderson, Lee County will sign an Interlocal Agreement with FGUA on Oct 18th 2005, reserving the right to purchase the Lehigh System from FGUA. In that agreement the county government will appoint Mr. Jim Lavender, Lee County Public Works Director, as an FGUA Board member, with Rick Diaz, Director of Lee County Utilities, as an alternate member.
At a County Commission meeting on October 3rd., Rick Diaz stated that "There will be assessments and rate Increases if we buy the Lehigh Acres system from FGUA. There is no way around it. Maybe a special MSBU is needed.” During that same meeting Diaz added that, “We only need to install water lines to all Lehigh Acres lots. The septic tanks are working fine. The Florida Department of Health states there are no issues currently with septic tanks in Lehigh Acres”

Jim Fleming asked why there was such a pressing need for potable water lines in Lehigh Acres if the septic tanks were working properly. "If the water is safe for us to tap with private wells, why is there a public health issue? I believe that there are other motives involved," Fleming said.

"Why is the FGUA mortgaging our community’s future without the community's input?" Anderson added.

Anderson's presentation also delved into potential conflicts of interest and other issues involving FGUA.

According to documents presented by the Lehigh Acres Watchdog, Inc., "FGUA has ignored the obvious conflict between Executive Director, Mr. Robert Sheets and FGUA's selected sub-contractor, US Water/Wade Trim. Mr. Sheets and his firm, GSG, have worked as consultants for Wade Trim within the past twenty-four months."

Robert Sheets' written response was that the board of FGUA was aware that GSG prepared a Revenue Manual for Wade Trim to use with its clients in the State of Michigan two years ago. GSG was compensated for its work and has had no contractual relationships with Wade Trim in any proposal or other state since then.

Anderson pointed out that FGUA is proposing to award this major contract to Wade Trim, a firm that has priced their service over $21,000,000 million dollars higher than the lowest cost proposal of $ 58,000,000. "The companies were each clearly told to give the most competitive price. FGUA should not give them “high grades” for all their “promised services”, only to let them bring their cost down to a lower price model after the selection. Their price is 36% higher than FUGA’s for the project. You cannot possibly negotiate down from this price without a significant reduction in customer service," Anderson said.

Mr. Anderson pointed out that, on October 4th., systems manager, Robert Sheets, reported that it was too early to release details about the contract, but he said classification issues led Wade-Trim/US to submit a contract proposal that was millions of dollars higher than the lowest bidder.

During Anderson's video clips of the September FGUA board meeting in Citrus County he showed Mike Welch addressing the board on the issue of the hardship that the proposed assessment would cause for the young working families and retirees of Lehigh Acres. "We don't mind paying taxes, but these unnecessary and unwanted assessments will break the backs of our citizens."

Everyone who attended the meeting agreed that the best possible course of action would be to take any and all means to stop the expansion and assessment program altogether.

Linda Carter, an LACPC board member suggested that the group unite and fight the FGUA with a class action suit. "Those of us who are retired and on fixed incomes should seek the help of the AARP to help us with the legal costs."

When asked if the group had considered such action, Mr. Anderson informed the group that he has already solicited the help of longtime FGUA critic, civic activist and attorney Mike Twomey of Orlando.

Anderson, Fleming and Welch are also reaching out to citizens groups from other areas affected by FGUA's expansion plans. They have already met with members of the Golden Gate Civic Association, and are contacting similar groups in Polk, Osceola and Citrus counties.

$2,250,000 offered for water, sewer (Citrus County)

$2,250,000 offered for water, sewer
By Terry Witt

An attorney for the company planning to build an upscale RV resort east of Inverness said his client is willing to pay $2,250,000 of the cost of supplying water and sewer to the project.

Robert Clark, who represents Century Realty Funds Inc., made the offer in an Oct. 14 letter to Inverness and county officials in which he asked if they were interested in a draft utilities agreement.

The latest offer includes $500,000 from Century Realty Funds Inc. to aid in the upgrade of a regional wastewater treatment plant owned by the city of Inverness.

Clark said the resort would be marketed similar to other projects his client has developed, focusing on people who drive recreational vehicles costing $250,000 to $1.5 million. Lots would sell for $75,000 to $150,000.

Neither the county nor the city has formally responded to the letter.

The proposed resort, which would be developed on the shores of Big Lake Spivey, has yet to receive a recommendation of approval from the Planning and Development Review Board or formal approval by the Citrus County Commission.

Inverness City Manager Frank DiGiovanni declined comment on the letter.

Citrus County Development Services Director Gary Maidhof said Century Realty Funds, Inc. realizes it must pay for water and sewer improvements as the cost of doing business, particularly in small counties like Citrus.

However, Maidhof said it might be premature for the county to approve a utilities agreement with Clark’s client before the RV resort itself is approved.

The resort would be developed on property currently zoned for one house per 20 acres.

The plan is to develop more than 800 RV units on 150 acres of land.

The project would include miles of walking trails, an executive golf course, a small grocery store, a canoe livery, boat ramp, clubhouse and other on-site amenities, according to Clark’s letter.

Utility offers rate freeze to customers (Citrus County)

Utility offers rate freeze to customers By Terry Witt

A letter from the manager of the Florida Governmental Utility Authority said it may be able to freeze water and sewer rates for five years in Citrus County if certain things happen, but one county official called the letter “garbage.”Robert Sheets, who is in charge of operating 11 private utilities for FGUA in Citrus County including those in Sugarmill Woods, Pine Ridge and Citrus Springs, told County Commission Chairwoman Vicki Phillips in an Oct. 14 letter the utility may not have to raise rates through 2010.

Sheets said if savings are realized through the hiring of a new lower-cost contract operator and if line extension assessments are imposed in Citrus Springs, the rates may remain at the current levels for five years.FGUA, a government-owned utility, has been criticized for proposing a $2,068 line extension property assessments in Citrus Springs. FGUA has been granted interim approval of the assessments while the county utility regulatory director reviews them in preparation for hearings in November. The assessments, in FGUA’s view, place the cost of growth on customers connecting to the utility rather than existing consumers.The government utility also has been criticized for recommending approval of a new contract operator that was high bidder for the management and operations contract. However, Sheets said FGUA has negotiated the most financially economical contract with Wade-Trim/US. He said it also provides enhanced customer service. He said the lower-cost contract will stabilize rates.“We believe that this fact, combined with our hope that we are successful in implementing our line extension assessment program in Citrus Springs, may allow us to assure the county that there will be no rate increases beyond the annual inflation indexing for at least five more years effective October 2005,” he said.

However, Citrus County Utilities Regulatory Director Robert Knight, who is reviewing FGUA’s proposed line extension property assessments, said Sheets’ Oct. 14 letter does not commit the utility to freezing rates for five years. The letter, Knight notes, only says the utility “may” be able to keep the same rates for five years.“It’s an empty promise. There’s no assurance,” he said.Knight said the letter also contradicts what FGUA is doing with the proposed line assessments in Citrus Springs. He said the assessments in Citrus Springs are a proposed rate increase regardless of what Sheets calls them.

And Knight said this is not the first time FGUA has promised to hold the line on rates.When FGUA bought the 11 utility systems in Citrus County, it made the same promise, Knight said, but the utility reneged on the pledge a year-and-a-half later when Chief Financial Officer David Miles, in a June 22, 2004 letter, made a “formal request for a limited rate increase proceeding.” Miles said FGUA wanted to increase connection charges in Citrus County.Knight also cites an Aug. 21, 2003, letter in which FGUA promised to continue to provide line extensions in Pine Ridge at a rate previously used by Florida Water Services. He said the letter pledged that line extensions would continue to cost customers $446 during the first five years after FGUA owned the Pine Ridge system. But he said FGUA has broken that pledge as well.Sheets responded that the connection charges and the line assessments are not rates. He said evidently Knight considers anything listed on FGUA’s tariff sheet a form of rates. He said FGUA considers its sewer and water charges to be rates, but nothing else.But Knight has a different definition of rates. He said any FGUA proposal that would raise the charges paid by customers is a rate increase in the county’s view. He said county commissioners have made that point and his office has taken the same position.“Evidently, they still don’t understand,” Knight said. “This letter is garbage.”

FGUA Cancels Board Meeting in Lehigh Acres

FGUA CHANGE DATE AND TIME AGAIN -----

Good Afternoon,
Please note the following change: Due to the impending Hurricane Wilma, the FGUA Board meeting scheduled for October 21, 2005 in Lee County has been cancelled. The FGUA Board meeting will be rescheduled for Thursday, October 27, 2005 at 5:00 pm at the Holiday Inn Select in Orlando. The address of the new location is as follows (an area map is attached):
Holiday Inn Select
ORLANDO-INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
5750 T.G. LEE BLVD.
ORLANDO, FL 32822
UNITED STATES

Tel: 1-407-851-6400
Fax: 1-407-240-3717
<> Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information.
Thank you,

Erin Quinn
equinn@govmserv.com
Administrative Assistant, Clerk to the Board Government Services Group, Inc.
280 Wekiva Springs Road, Suite 203
Longwood, FL 32779-6026
(407) 629-6900 office
(407) 629-6963 fax
www.govserv.com





These was recieved at 4:43pm Wednesday 10/19/05 -----


Good Afternoon,

Due to the impending Hurricane Wilma, the FGUA Board meeting scheduled for October 21, 2005 in Lee County has been cancelled. The FGUA Board meeting will be rescheduled for Friday, October 28, 2005 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Orlando Airport in Orlando at 12:30 pm.

Crowne Plaza Hotel
ORLANDO-AIRPORT
5555 HAZELTINE NATIONAL DR
ORLANDO, FL 32812
UNITED STATES
Tel: 1-407-856-0100
Fax: 1-407-855-7991

Thank you,
Erin Quinn
equinn@govmserv.com
Administrative Assistant, Clerk to the Board Government Services Group, Inc.
280 Wekiva Springs Road, Suite 203
Longwood, FL 32779-6026
(407) 629-6900 office
(407) 629-6963 fax

FGUA sticks it to the taxpayers of Lee County...

In spite of assurances from FGUA leadership that no money would be borrowed without first consulting the Lee County Commission, the FGUA managed to get a 25 million dollar bond in the back door. And just who will get stuck paying the debt?

The taxpayers of Lee County.

On the agenda of this friday's meeting is the approval of a bond for Lehigh Acres. In light of all this I have to wonder:How much taxpayer money will be paid to GSG [FGUA's managing company]?

And how much taxpayer money will find it's way into the pockets of Robert Sheets [System Manager, who is also CEO of GSG] and Charles Sweat [Director of Operations, who is also Vice President of GSG]?

And will these individuals be reimbursing the taxpayers anytime soon???But the most important question is What will the Lee County Commission do about this?

All the more reason to communicate with your County Commissioner... and to tell the FGUA board on Friday the free ride is over...

Citizens' Rally

Citizens Rally

- Public Notice -

Citizens Rally

Can you afford $17,500 for Water and Sewer???

Will Lee County buy the system from the FGUA and charge all Lehigh Acres

residents with the purchase with high rates and taxes???


Let’s find out the truth ----


October 20th 2005
6:30pm - 8:30pm
At the East County Regional Library
881 Gunnery Road

FGUA only board this year in Lehigh Acres

FGUA Board Meeting
October 21st 2005
10am – 1pm
At the East County Regional Library
881 Gunnery Road

Can Customers of FGUA systems trust US Water

-----------------------------

Can Water and Sewer Customers

on the FGUA Systems

trust Gary Deremer

the President of US Water

------------------------------

----------------------------------

US Water is about to sign a 5 year

Multi Million Dollar day to day

operations contract with FGUA

read below to learn about the practices of

US Waters President Mr. Gary Deremer -----

Exert for Tampa Bay's 10 News Story ------

Acting utility director wins contracts from city

ALENE BURKE:“And he said the city told us to not begin the job. So I said who in the city told you not to do the job? He said Gary Deremer, the Utility Director.”

BURKE:“I said probably on three occasions that I am absolutely shocked to see the Utility Director wearing a U.S. Water shirt. My understanding is that gifts like this should not be accepted by public officials.”It turns out Deremer didn’t receive the shirt as a gift from the company, because he is the President of the U.S. Water.

GARY DEREMER:“I’m working on a story about the fact that you work as Acting Utility Director yet your firm or firms you’ve been associated with have received more than a million dollars in the past five years. Does that present any conflict in your mind? Well Mike, really the person you need to speak is the City Manager. Unless I’m directed by the council or the city manager to address any issues I don’t.”

DEREMER:“You’ve indeed received more than a million dollars or the companies you’ve been associated with as you’ve been consulting Utility Director. Isn’t there an ethical problem with that? Again, I’m going to have to direct you to the City Manager."

BURKE:“I think Gary Deremer should be immediately ejected from his seat of utility director.”The companies Deremer has been associated submitted the lowest or only bid on many projects. However, in several instances there have been cost overruns on the projects and they end up costing taxpayers more than the original bid.

---------------------------

- MORE -

Gary Deremer -- Florida Ethics Troubles ---

http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/ethics/press_releases/Jan05pres.pdf

------------------------------

- MORE -

Solving mystery of missing city ethics

Letters to the Editor St Pete Times Published March 31, 2004

Editor: My first trip to a Port Richey City Council meeting on March 23 was one of the most surreal experiences that I have ever had. I simply went to find out why the city's sewer and water lines stopped 125 feet from my property line and why so much mystery revolved around this matter.

There was a mystery man demanding that I pay to extend the city's subpar sewer and water work, a mystery video tape that was ordered by a mystery person that had to be reviewed by some other person not identifiable by the city, mystery measurement when the 125 feet suddenly transformed into 220 feet when a bill was sent to me and mystery management not only in the utility department but also in the city manager's office. I was committed to solving these mysteries and debunking the myths that this city has been perpetuating for some time at significant expense to me.

As I stood at the podium, I glanced to the left and was shocked beyond belief to see city Utility Director Gary Deremer blatantly sporting an embroidered U.S. Water shirt at an official meeting. I was so stunned that I verbalized this dismay out loud.

I privately thought, Could this person work for U.S. Water? What is the connection between the city utility director and this company, the same company that was at my home a few days before with a city employee and the same company that stretched the 125 feet to 220 feet? Incidentally, 220 feet from the manhole goes well beyond the furthest limits of my property line. What is the connection between Deremer and the company that presented me with a bill to pay almost $6,000 to get under the city's street and run sewer and water pipes? The next day, I learned that our utility director is the owner of U.S. Water, a company that for some time has done, and continues to do, a significant amount of work for this city at taxpayer expense.
Article II, section 8 of the Florida Constitution states, "a public office (or position) is a public trust." As stewards of the public trust, all city employees must use the powers and resources of the city, entrusted to them by the public, to further the public interest and not for any personal gain or financial benefit." Furthermore, the city of Port Richey ordinances state that "city employees shall not engage in outside employment or financial transactions of any kind with any person, entity, firm, or corporation doing business with the city when such transactions constitute a conflict of interest" and that they should seek guidance, for their own protection, by submitting the details of questionable situations, in writing, to the city manager before engaging in such questionable activity.

Did Deremer seek this guidance from City Manager Vincent Lupo? What guidance did he give? Is the city's use of the utility director/consultant a lame way to avoid the appearance of impropriety and mislead the public? Job titles mean nothing. Deremer performs the role of the utility director and he signs his name as such.

This reasonable observer believes that there is a conflict of interest and that it should be ended immediately. Additionally, why has Lupo allowed this to exist?

I am concerned. So concerned that I have contacted the Florida Commission on Ethics and I encourage everyone else to do the same if they suspect impropriety and misuse of public office.
I am someone who thought I wanted to live in Port Richey after spending over $200,000 to build a home and now am being harassed and forced to pay for city work.

-- Alene Burke, Lutz

PORK AND GSG AND FGUA

FGUA admin group GSG is making 8.2 million dollars in Fiscal year 2006

Citrus County commission to discuss FGUA purchase

County commission to discuss FGUA purchase

By Terry Witt

Citrus County Commission Chairwoman Vicki Phillips said she wants to talk with fellow board members on Tuesday about whether to purchase a controversial public utility.Phillips said she has lost trust in the Florida Governmental Utility Authority and believes the county should at least investigate purchasing FGUA, which she says has no accountability.

FGUA is the government entity that purchased 11 private utilities in Citrus County from Florida Water Services in December 2003.Since that time, FGUA has been criticized for providing poor customer service and proposing property assessments without first soliciting public comment. The latest criticism surrounds FGUA’s plan to hire the high bidder for an operations contract.

Phillips said she favors forming a professional team of non-staff members to evaluate whether the county can afford to purchase FGUA.“My goal on Tuesday is to put this out there for commissioners to discuss. I would like to assemble a group of experts to be able to come back to the board with numbers,” Phillips said.She said she realizes the financial issues could be complex. She said the board was told at the time FGUA bought the 11 utilities that the county could buy them back at the original purchase price whenever it was ready.

But she said it appears now that any improvements FGUA has made to the utilities it purchased, and any debt it has acquired, would have to be added to the county’s purchase price. She said she is growing weary of the changing numbers FGUA uses, calling it a “shell game.”

Commissioner Gary Bartell, like Phillips, said he wants to take a look at purchasing FGUA. However, he said he is not ready to commit to a purchase. He wants to be sure the purchase would not result in a rate increase for its Citrus County customers.

Bartell said he supported the original concept behind the creation of FGUA. He said the organization was to purchase private utilities and hold them like a warehouse until local governments could afford to buy them back. But he said he has been disappointed in the way FGUA operates.

He said the fact that FGUA tried to impose the property assessments without county approval was disappointing.“The performance FGUA has demonstrated this past year, I’m not impressed with at all,” he said.

County may operate water, sewer service

County may operate water, sewer service

Director suggests water lines first

By JUSTIN ST. CLAIRJSTCLAIR@LEHIGHNEWSSTAR.COM Published by news-press.com on October 5, 2005

Lee County may soon be able to take over operations if not ownership of Lehigh Acres' water and sewer system, according to Lee County Utilities Director Rick Diaz.

Diaz told commissioners at a Management and Planning Committee meeting Monday that the contract to operate the system will soon be up for grabs.

The county has expressed interest in buying the system from current owners Florida Governmental Utility Authority. Commissioner John Albion said taking over operations would be a great first step toward that goal.

"That puts us in an excellent position," Albion said. "That would be an important step for the interim."Diaz said he would bring the idea before the authority's board of directors at the next meeting on Oct. 21 in Lehigh.

The county will be represented as the fourth member of that board at the meeting.

Diaz also advised commissioners that it would be better to look at buying the utility system sooner than later, given the authority's plans for expansion.

The proposed expansion includes bringing water and sewer lines to 4,100 additional lots in central Lehigh, expanding capacity at the sewage treatment plant and building a second water treatment plant, according to Charles Sweat, the authority's director of operations.

"It makes sense for Lee County Utilities not to wait any longer and take the bull by the horns, considering that the bull is going to get bigger," Diaz said.

Authority System Manager Robert Sheets said the projects will not affect the rates of the current 12,302 water and 9,951 wastewater customers, but will be paid for with assessments to lot owners in the expansion area.

If the total expansion cost is divided evenly among all 4,100 lot owners, the assessments would be $13,740 per lot. Authority officials said, however, an actual assessment rate has not been determined and will not be available until November at the earliest.

Diaz said the county utility system would focus first on laying water lines through the bulk of the Lehigh area before considering any sewer expansions.

He said that would keep assessments down considerably, as water lines are cheaper to lay than sewer.

Having treated water delivered to all residents would also eliminate any concerns about groundwater contamination because of septic systems, he said.

Commissioner Ray Judah said the county should still look into sewer expansion in the long term, as the septic tanks force water managers to keep groundwater levels artificially low, and Lehigh will need more groundwater as growth continues.

Sweat said after Diaz's presentation that he still believes that the authority's current plans for expansion are still best for Lehigh residents, and doubted the county could do things cheaper and better.

The authority's board will meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 at the East County Regional Library at 881 Gunnery Road.

Utility to stick with high bidder

Utility to stick with high bidder By Terry Witt

An executive with the Florida Governmental Utility Authority on Monday said the FGUA is ready to present a contract to the company that was high bidder two weeks ago for an operations contract.

Systems Manager Robert Sheets said it was too early to release details about the contract, but he said "classification issues" led to Wade-Trim/US submitting a contract proposal millions higher than the lowest bidder.

After more than a week of negotiations, Sheets FGUA has asked Wade-Trim to separate its estimated costs for basic services from additional services. Doing that, he said, brought Wade-Trim more into line with the other bidders.

He said he believes Wade-Trim officials thought they were giving FGUA a more favorable pricing bundle by grouping basic services and additional services together, but he said it had the opposite effect."

It gets their numbers well within line with others," Sheets said. "We believe we have reached the point where we can present a contract to Wade-Trim."FGUA, which owns 11 water and sewer systems in Citrus County, was questioned at its board meeting in Inverness on Sept. 15 about why it chose Wade-Trim as the No. 1 ranked bidder when the company's contract proposal was $21 million higher than the low bidder.Wade-Trim had submitted a proposal to operate, maintain and handle customer service and billing for $79.9 million over five years. Southwest Water (OpTech) had proposed a $58.2 million contract. Severn Trent Environmental Services offered to do the work for $61 million.

The contract proposals were not sealed bids. FGUA used a point system to grade the proposals, with 30 percent of the grade dealing with costs. Seventy percent of the points were for technical, business management and financial considerations.

Citrus County Administrator Richard Wesch, who sits on FGUA's board of directors, was assigned to lead the committee that negotiated with Wade-Trim.

Sheets said he would be releasing a copy of a briefing memo today or tomorrow explaining why Wade-Trim would be offered a contract.

US WATER AGREES TO LOWER BID

US WATER AGREES TO LOWER BID -- IS THIS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH GSG -- FGUA WILL VOTE ON CONTRACT Oct 21st in Lehigh Acres

FGUA is proposing to award this major contract to a firm that has priced their service over $ 21,000,000 million dollars higher than the lowest cost proposal of $ 58,000,000. The companies were each clearly told to give our most competitive price with our Proposal. You should not give them “high grades” for all their “promised services”, only to then let them bring their cost down to our price model after the selection. Their price is 36% higher than FUGA’s price for the project. You cannot possibly negotiate down from this price without a SIGNIFICANT reduction in customer service.