Town prepares for water rate adjustment
Working as the Board of Directors for the Public Works Services Inc. on Monday, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council unanimously approved to authorize staff to move forward with the preparation of the petition for a rate adjustment to reflect the increase to the wholesales water rate that will be charged by the County.
Lee County Utilities was notified of the rate increase after the Lee County Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing last week that was associated with proposed revisions to the water and wastewater rate structure that included a revision to the wholesale water rates. The rate was approved.
The rate will increase from $3.20 to $3.46 per thousand gallons. The BOCC approved the proposal during a public hearing on Aug. 9, and mentioned the new rates were scheduled for implementation on Oct. 1, 2011.
But, in accordance with the provisions of Addendum #1 of the Wholesale water Inter-Local Agreement, the BOCC needs to provide the Town of Fort Myers Beach with a 90-day notice of the intent to modify the wholesale water rates and implementation of the same. Due to that provision, the three-month period should begin Aug. 9, and the wholesale water rate adjustment should be implemented no sooner that Nov. 9, 2011.
Town Manager Terry Stewart confirmed the two-party agreement during his introduction to the Public Works agenda item Monday evening.
“In order to be able to implement any rate increase within the Town, there is a inter-local agreement between us and the County that specifically defines that they may not increase any rate any sooner than 90 days after the announcement of such a rate,” he said. “I have prepared a letter that was sent to County Manager Karen Hawes, advising her of the clause of the contract which defines the time limit.”
Town officials need the appropriate time to notify residents of the rate increase to give them an opportunity to respond on the matter. A notice of such a proposed rate change will be sent out within a utility billing and a workshop is in the planning stages for “customers” to speak out.
Town buys its water in bulk from a Lee County distribution system for a set fee per thousands of gallons. The approximately eight percent rate increase was determined after the County conducted a utility rate analysis.
Other agenda item news
Council unanimously agreed to authorize the organization of a committee to assist in the selection of an auditing firm for the Town and to aid in duties and assignments as required within. The auditor’s primary responsibility will be to conduct the annual financial audit.
The duties of the audit committee will include: 1) establishment of factors to be used for the evaluation of audit services to be provided by the audit firm; 2) public announcement of an RFP; 3) provision of interested firms with the RFP; 4) evaluation of proposals provided by qualified firms; and 5) ranking and recommendations in order of preference of no fewer than three firms deemed to be the most highly qualified to perform the required services.
Council also unanimously approved to accept the ranking of firms for Cultural Facilities Landscape Maintenance and authorize staff to begin contract negotiations with GrandScapes Landscape & Maintenance, the top-ranked firm. The services are reimbursable to the Town through the Town’s beach and shoreline maintenance grant with the Tourist Development Council.
Council then unanimously approved to accept a Citizen Recognition Program, one that provides for award categories, general criteria, nomination procedure and recognition of citizens, groups, organizations or businesses on Fort Myers Beach. This action comes after discussion during a previous workshop with the Town’s Community Resources Advisory Board.