August 20, 2002

The Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, met in special session on August 20, 2002, at 5:35 p.m. in the City of West Melbourne Council Chambers, 2285 Minton Road, West Melbourne, Florida. Present were: Chairman Truman Scarborough, Commissioners Nancy Higgs via telephone, Susan Carlson, and Jackie Colon, Assistant County Manager Peggy Busacca, and County Attorney Scott Knox. Absent was: Commissioner Randy O’Brien.

Commissioner Nancy Higgs led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC HEARING, RE: STATEMENT OF PROPOSED RATES FOR MELBOURNE-
TILLMAN WATER CONTROL DISTRICT FOR FY 2002-2003

Chairman Scarborough called for the public hearing to consider statement of proposed rates for Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District for FY 2002-2003.

Al Pennell, Manager of Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District, introduced District Board Member and Vice President Charlotte Luikart, appointed by the City of West Melbourne, and District Board Member Joe Hale, appointed by the City of Palm Bay. He stated the Board of Directors of the Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District requests the Board’s support for an increase in user fees of $71,338, the first such request for an increase in four years; this will be provided through an annual increase of 84 cents to the typical single-family residential homeowner; and the proportional increases for the three land categories include residential, from a current rate of $16.73 per acre or portion thereof, to $17.57; commercial from $32.50 per acre or portion thereof, to $34.12; and agriculture from $5.86 per acre or portion thereof, to $6.15. Mr. Pennell advised the request is based on the interest in adding one new staff member in the Aquatic Herbicide Program; it will allow the District to free up staff that it currently borrows from Facilities, which is mowing, to serve that purpose; mowing is the single most common complaint the District receives from citizens; the District mows sufficiently to meet its needs for flood control; however, the public would like to see the grass mowed more frequently than it is. He stated adding the person in Aquatic Herbicide will allow the District to be much more efficient in its mowing operation; there is also a County imposed indirect cost assessment, which is new for the District; it had some extraordinary increases in insurance, including health, worker’s compensation, and liability; excluding insurance, etc. as the District has accounted for it, it has added one percent for cost of living increase based on the Consumer Price Index of approximately two percent; and that is what adds up to the $71,338 distributed as indicated. Mr. Pennell requested the Board’s support for tentative approval of the proposed rates for the District.

Chairman Scarborough expressed appreciation to the District Board members for their presence.

TENTATIVE APPROVAL, RE: PROPOSED RATES FOR MELBOURNE-TILLMAN
WATER CONTROL DISTRICT FOR FY 2002-2003

Motion by Commissioner Carlson, seconded by Commissioner Colon, to grant tentative approval of proposed rates as requested by Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District for FY 2002-2003, including an increase in user fees of $71,338, which will be provided through an annual increase of 84 cents to the typical single-family residential homeowner, with proportional increases from $16.73 to $17.57 for residential, from $5.86 to $6.15 for agricultural, and from $32.50 to $34.12 for commercial.

Commissioner Higgs stated she will support the motion; and expressed appreciation to the Board for allowing her to participate by phone. She noted it was important for her to be in Tallahassee to take her son to college, but also to participate in the meeting; and she appreciates the cooperation everybody has shown.

Chairman Scarborough called for a vote on the motion. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Mr. Pennell thanked the Board for its support and Commissioner Higgs for adjusting her schedule.

Upon motion and vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.

ATTEST: __________________________________
TRUMAN SCARBOROUGH, CHAIRMAN
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

_______________________
SCOTT ELLIS, CLERK

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