August 19, 2003

The Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, met in special session on August 19, 2003, at 5:53 p.m. in the City of West Melbourne Council Chambers, 2285 Minton Road, West Melbourne, Florida. Present were: Chairperson Jackie Colon, Commissioners Ron Pritchard and Nancy Higgs, Assistant County Manager Stephen Peffer, and Assistant County Attorney Cliff Repperger. Absent were: Commissioners Truman Scarborough and Susan Carlson.

Chairperson Jackie Colon led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC HEARING, RE: STATEMENT OF PROPOSED RATES FOR MELBOURNE-
TILLMAN WATER CONTROL DISTRICT FOR FY 2003-2004

Chairperson Colon called for the public hearing to consider statement of proposed rates for Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District for FY 2003-2004.

Al Pennell, Manager of Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District, stated the District is a 100-square mile Special District organized in 1922; there are almost 200 miles of canals; on February 25, 2003, the Board of Directors adopted a tentative budget for FY 2004 for submittal to the County’s Budget Office; and the District Board is a seven-member delegation, including three appointees by Brevard County--Joe Hale, President of the District Board; Mark Blue, who is currently in Iraq; and Mike Davis. He noted the City of Palm Bay appoints three members, including Sam Simonian, Everett Morris, and Tom Quesnel; and the City of West Melbourne’s appointment is Charlotte Luikhart, who is Vice President of the District Board. Mr. Pennell advised the District is requesting the Board’s approval for an increase in user fees of $47,200 to cover extraordinary increases in insurance coverage, including liability, health, and workers compensation costs; the increase is proposed to be covered in an increase in user fee rates of 55 cents per year to the typical single-family residence; the single-family residence represents over 81% of the total billable parcels within the District; and the increase for residential lots is from an existing annual fee of $17.57 per acre or a portion thereof, plus the requested 55 cents, to a total of $18.12 per acre or a portion thereof. He stated proportional changes for commercial lands would increase the existing rate of $34.12 per acre or a portion thereof, plus $1.06, to $35.18 per acre or a portion thereof; and agricultural lands from the existing $6.15 per acre or a portion thereof, plus 19 cents, would be $6.34 per acre or a portion thereof.

TENTATIVE APPROVAL, RE: PROPOSED RATES FOR MELBOURNE-TILLMAN
WATER CONTROL DISTRICT FOR FY 2003-2004

Commissioner Pritchard stated insurance is driving the cost of almost everything that the County is trying to provide; there is little it can do except to accept what it has, which is an increase in insurance costs; he has been looking at a variety of ways to minimize the cost of doing business; and when it comes to workers compensation, liability, and other insurances, the County is caught between a rock and a hard place, which is a shame. He noted until the County can do something more effective about that, it may be stuck with having to pay the cost of doing business.

Motion by Commissioner Pritchard, seconded by Commissioner Higgs, to grant tentative approval of proposed rates as requested by Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District for FY 2003-2004, including an increase in user fees of $47,200, which will be provided through an annual increase of 55 cents to the typical single-family residential homeowner, with proportional increases from $17.57 to $18.12 for residential, from $6.15 to $6.34 for agricultural, and from $34.12 to $35.18 for commercial. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Upon motion and vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m.

ATTEST: __________________________________
JACKIE COLON, CHAIRPERSON
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

____________________
SCOTT ELLIS, CLERK

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