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County to look at water charges

Two residents of Pine Ridge complain that they are charged thousands of dollars by the county's water provider for a water hookup fee.

By JUSTIN GEORGE
Published June 29, 2005

INVERNESS - The pipes are already in the ground.

But neighbors George Van Tesslar and John Lepore, both retirees who live in Pine Ridge, weren't pleased to get notices from their water provider saying they must pay $6,500 by Sept. 1 - or $7,800 after that date - for a "capital assessment" fee they interpreted as a water hookup fee.

So they took their complaints to the County Commission on Tuesday, protesting the assessment by the Florida Governmental Utility Authority. The water provider was created by Citrus County and other Florida governments as a way to team resources and provide residents with infrastructure. The authority operates as its own entity with its own board of directors.

"Every time I turn around I'm being nickel-and-dimed to death - except the nickel and dime is thousands (of dollars)," Van Tesslar said. "I'm retired now. My income is fixed."

The capital assessment fees, which would go toward paying for maintenance and expansion, affect people in Citrus Springs and Pine Ridge, two booming northern communities.

Many residents had thought the new fees would affect only new home buyers. But Van Tesslar and Lepore showed commissioners authority notices that stated anyone who bought a house before June 15, 2004, would have to pay.

If residents cannot pay the charges, they can finance them at a minimum rate of $836 a month. Lepore said that adds up to 19 percent interest.

Commissioners said they would look into the matter. A public presentation of the fees is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 6 at the Citrus Springs Community Center, 1570 W Citrus Springs Blvd.

In other action at the commission meeting:

--Commissioners authorized the county attorney to expedite enforcement against MARPAD Inc., a landowner, and Van der Valk Construction, a builder, for cutting trees without following the county's tree protection ordinance and using county rights of way without permission.

But here's the county's problem with the undeveloped property on the east side of Independence Highway between U.S. 41 N and State Road 44: barbed wire fencing and 44 cattle living on the land, which is zoned and meant for homes.

Van der Valk, a local builder and developer, is developing the property. But County Attorney Robert Battista said commissioners' action Tuesday freezes development there.

Already, Citrus County has placed a $24,000 lien against the property for avoiding code enforcement orders.

--With Crystal River's annexation of more than 500 acres south of the city now dead, county officials are dealing with the fallout. On Tuesday, commissioners asked the Planning and Development Review Board to review the city's June 10 decision to approve a nine-lot subdivision at the southeast corner of U.S. 19 and W Venable Street. The subdivision, which would have been built on 124 acres, is being proposed by South Carolina developer RealtiCorp.

While the entire annexation is dead, Battista said Citrus County must have its planning board reject the minor subdivision plans for legal reasons, though commissioners wanted to kill the proposal themselves.

--Jeffery Smith, a prosecutor who was injured two years ago when a security door at the Citrus County Courthouse closed on his hand, will receive $3,500 from the county government. Commissioners approved the settlement Tuesday.

The accident happened in January 2003 shortly after new security screening equipment was installed. The $3,500 is just part of an overall $15,000 settlement for Smith, county records show. The rest would come from the equipment manufacturer and courthouse contractor.

--Commissioners agreed to discuss prohibiting future billboards in the county, under a proposal championed by Commissioner Joyce Valentino. Commissioners instructed the staff to study the number and types of billboards in the county for the future discussion, which wasn't scheduled.

Besides being aesthetically unpleasing, Valentino said, billboards cost the county more money in road expansion and right-of-way acquisition.

--Justin George can be reached at 352 860-7309 or jgeorge@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 29, 2005, 01:18:19]