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.
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.
posted by Editor Facts & Myths @ 10:43 AM
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