Martin County

File #: 25-0212   
Type: Consent Status: Agenda Ready
In control: Board of County Commissioners
On agenda: 11/12/2024 Final action:
Title: INITIAL ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION FOR THE EVERGREEN/WINDSTONE WATER MAIN MUNICIPAL SERVICE BENEFIT UNIT
Attachments: 1. Evergreen - Initial Assessment Resolution

PLACEMENT: Consent

TITLE:

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INITIAL ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION FOR THE EVERGREEN/WINDSTONE WATER MAIN MUNICIPAL SERVICE BENEFIT UNIT

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

executive summary

Board action is requested to adopt the initial assessment resolution for the Evergreen/Windstone Water Main Municipal Service Benefit Unit to allow installation of water lines.

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DEPARTMENT: Utilities and Solid Waste                     

PREPARED BY:                      Name: Phil Keathley                     

                     Title:                     Chief Project Manager                     

REQUESTED BY: Samuel Amerson, P.E., Utilities & Solid Waste Director                                          

 

PRESET:     

PROCEDURES: None                     

 

BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:

 

The proposed project area is generally described as properties fronting SW Island Way, SW Bimini Circle North, SW Bimini Circle South, SW Cayman Court, SW Bermuda Way, SW Carib Court, SW Windward Way, SW Leeward Way, SW Rivers End Way, SW Cassine Court, SW Bicopa Place, SW Wiregrass Court, SW Lake Rush Court, and SW Buttonwood Court presently without availability of public water supply. There are 400 benefitting properties in the project area.

The ballots indicated that the BOCC had unanimously established a lump sum cap of $10,000 per equivalent residential unit (ERC) for this proposed project at their April 9, 2024 meeting.

The final tally of all the ballots received to date as verified by the Martin County Supervisor of Elections office indicates 226 properties FOR the project and 106 AGAINST.

A Florida Department of Environmental Protection Construction Permit has been received and competitive bids from underground utility contractors were opened on September 18, 2024 and Jamie Underground Inc. submitted the lowest responsive and responsible bid.

A staff level workshop will be held in December 2024, prior to the final public hearing, to explain the project scope, costs, and the assessment process.  All the 400 benefitting property owners will be mailed invitations to that workshop.

Based on the final design, the initial prepayment amount is $9,926.43 per equivalent residential connection (ERC) which is below the $10,000 cap established by the BOCC for this project.  Amortizing the project over a 20-year period at 1.52% interest will result in an estimated annual payment of $634.86 per ERC.  The estimated annual payment also includes annual costs related to preparation and collection of the roll each year totaling 8.75% (consisting of 2% for the Tax Collector fee, 2.75% for the tax roll and legal consultants, and a 4% adjustment for early tax bill payments).  This project will be financed through the State Revolving Fund Loan Agreement #43024. The annual payment will be included in the tax bill commencing with the bill mailed in October 2025.  The proposed assessment will include 400 properties at 400 ERC’s.

A public hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, December 10, 2024.  The notice for the hearing will be advertised in The Stuart News and upon adoption of the initial assessment resolution today, individual notices of the public hearing will be mailed to each property owner proposed to be assessed at the mailing address indicated on the tax roll.

 

ISSUES:

 

None

 

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:

 

Chris Traber, the County’s Special Assessment Counsel, has prepared the resolution, reviewed the Agenda Item Summary, and confirmed that the form of each is proper.

 

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

 

RECOMMENDATION

Move that the Board adopt the Initial Assessment Resolution to create the Evergreen/Windstone Water Main Municipal Service Benefit Unit.

 

ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

Pull this item from the Consent Agenda and direct staff accordingly.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

None, as the cost of the project will be paid for by the benefitted property owners of the Evergreen/ Windstone Water Main Municipal Service Benefit Unit.

                     

ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

None

 

DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:

Budget Transfer / Amendment                      Chair Letter                                                               Contract / Agreement

Grant / Application                                          Notice          Ordinance                     Resolution

Other: