Martin County

File #: 19-0834   
Type: Consent Status: Agenda Ready
In control: Board of County Commissioners
On agenda: 8/27/2019 Final action:
Title: SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE BETWEEN MARTIN COUNTY AND EAGLE MARSH GOLF CLUB, LLC REGARDING IRRIGATION QUALITY WATER DEBT
Attachments: 1. EM Settlement Agreement signed by EM.pdf
PLACEMENT: Consent
TITLE:
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SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE BETWEEN MARTIN COUNTY AND EAGLE MARSH GOLF CLUB, LLC REGARDING IRRIGATION QUALITY WATER DEBT
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
The Board is asked to consider a settlement agreement and release (the Settlement) resolving an Irrigation Quality Water (IQ Water) billing dispute between Martin County and its Utilities and Solid Waste Department (County) and Eagle Marsh Golf Club, LLC.
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DEPARTMENT: Utilities and Solid Waste
PREPARED BY: Name: Samuel Amerson, P.E.
Title: Utilities & Solid Waste Director
REQUESTED BY: David Arthur, Senior Assistant County Attorney

PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None

BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:

In 1991, the County and Eagle Marsh's predecessor-in-interest Jensen Beach Land Company, LTD, which was the original developer of the golf club and course, entered into an IQ Water Agreement for the County to provide IQ Water in return for monthly payments. The water was primarily used for irrigating the golf course and the common areas, and residences. Eventually, nearby commercial and residential properties also entered into IQ Water Agreements with the County, whereby the County provided IQ Water from the same IQ Water pond as Eagle Marsh. Consequently, because the properties receiving IQ Water from that source were no longer under one owner, Eagle Marsh became responsible for billing the commercial and residential users and getting reimbursed from them.
Until November 1, 2017, Eagle Marsh was current with its IQ Water bills. After that time, they fell into arrears because the former tenant that managed the golf club and course failed to pay Eagle Marsh for the IQ Water.
Cutting off the IQ Water supply would have not only devastated the Eagle Marsh golf club and course but also would have adversely affected innocent commercial and residential properties because those properties draw the IQ Water from the same pond. Thus, the County refrained fr...

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