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1992-03-24 Reese to Drago RMA Reese, Macon and Associates, Inc. March 24, 1992 City of Okeechobee 55 S.E. Third Avenue Okeechobee, FL 34974 ATTN: John J. Drago, City Administrator RE: City/County Comp Plans Dear Mr. Drago: Per your request, we have reviewed the water and wastewater portions of the City and County Comp Plans. The following comments are relevant: City Comp Plan Policy 1.3.2 - The noted percentages are not consistent with current DER rule requirements (17-600.405) for wastewater. Your current permit may, or may not, include this, but future permits will reflect the rule. Also, for wastewater, the averaging period needs to be defined. For water, there is not DER rule but they tend to follow the Palm Beach County rule (at 80% must go to design, at 90% must go to construction). There should be some allowance for unusual flow circumstances for water since this can be a one time occurrence. County Comp Plan Policy 1.1 - The water and sewer plans should be consistent with the City. Policy 1.2 - This must include some reference to the City since County has no facilities. Policy 1.3 - This must include some reference to the City. Objective 3 - We presume this includes the City as a "provider of public supply potable water and sanitary sewer facilities". Policy 3.1 - This must include the City. How can the future needs of the county be reasonably and economically assessed without benefit of knowing and working with the only utility with an in-place infrastructure. 3003 S. Congress Avenue - Palm Springs, Florida 33461 - (407) 433-9311 PAGE 2 John J. Drago City of Okeechobee March 24, 1992 Policy 3.2 - This appears to say that the only way to meet the water and sewer needs of Southern Okeechobee County is to form a utility authority which includes the County. There are other options. This must include language which clearly indicates the desire to move forward with the program which is most economically feasible, not just feasible. Will this policy force connection of existing septic tanks, but allow connection to a central water system to be optional? On what basis can a utility authority force existing septic tanks to be connected? Policy 3.43 - How long will this be allowed and exactly what area does it apply to? Will the County require connection of customers in the County to the City system wherever the City currently has, or will supply service? Policy 3.54 - Will this be related only to County public supplies? How will the County treat areas where service from either the City or the County/Authority/Beach Systems is feasible. Will the County require connection to the most feasible? Who will determine this and on what basis? Policy 3.65 - Will the design and construction criteria be coordinated with the existing City criteria, so areas most feasibly served by the City will meet minimum City criteria? Policy 3.76 - It is necessary to define "public supply facilities" for this item. Does this mean a central system? Is this required independent of size and location? This item could be very expensive depending on the definitions used. Policy 3.87 - Will the County consider continuance of the existing arrangement with the City for water and sewer service if it is the most economically feasible? Will the County coordinate their efforts with the City in making this determination? Policy 4.2 - The County does not have a utility. Requirements for conservation should be consistent with the City which should be consistent with SFWMD. Will the County be disseminating information to the City customers in the County only, or can this process be coordinated? PAGE 3 John J. Drago City of Okeechobee March 24, 1992 We feel this document raises many questions. In general, it appears that the proposed County plan has pre-determined that the County will be providing water and sewer service either through a utility authority, or on its own. There may be other options, the most obvious being the existing structure, which present a more cost effective alternative. The comp plan should allow for use of the best economic approach, not just any feasible approach. If you have questions or wish to discuss this further, please call. Very truly yours, William D. Reese, P.E. WDR/clm 92-109