Crystal River considers ending sewer deal
By ELENA LESLEY
Published March 29, 2006
CRYSTAL RIVER - City Council member Robert Holmes doesn't mince words when he discusses Crystal River's interlocal agreement with the county.
"I've read this thing frontward and backward," Holmes said during Monday's council meeting. "And I've gotten madder and madder every time I've read it."
Though Holmes' motion to dissolve the agreement, which council member John Kendall seconded, failed to pass, the council instructed its staff to return in six weeks with proposed changes.
The interlocal agreement delineates which sewer service areas fall under the city's jurisdiction and which the county's. Though the council has taken issue with the agreement for some time, a recent disagreement over an abandoned utility system has highlighted its shortcomings, council member Susan Kirk said.
In a recent petition filed in circuit court, the county tried to transfer the 23-customer Anchorage Utility System to the city. The city has since filed a request to delay the proceedings, which should "put things on hold" while the city comes to an agreement with the county, City Attorney Anthony Perrone said.
"Per the interlocal agreement, everything west of (U.S.) 19 is service area for the city," Kirk said, referencing the Anchorage dispute. "People have felt the agreement is lopsided and it favors the county."
Under the agreement, the city also cannot force county residents who want Crystal River water and sewer to annex into the city, Kirk said.
If the city decides to dissolve the agreement, service areas will revert to those designated by the state, Holmes said. Crystal River would then be responsible for service within a 5-mile radius of the corporate limits, he said.
Despite Kendall's second, other council members expressed concern over terminating the agreement too quickly.
"If we just throw it out, that might throw us into several different Anchorage water systems," Kirk said.
At the council's request, city staffers said they would research the agreement and come back with proposed changes in May.
"I think our first step will be to negotiate the agreement," Kirk said.
But Holmes seemed less eager to compromise.
"I won't be a part of (the agreement)," he said. "I won't vote to be a part of it. State statute is good enough."
In other action:
The council passed the final reading of an ordinance to restrict truck traffic throughout the city. The measure requires trucks to remain on major thoroughfares unless making a residential delivery.
Ray Bass, owner of Stingray's nightclub, told the council that he planned to improve alcohol-related training for his employees. The council instructed its staff at the last meeting to research a nuisance ordinance after receiving word that police have responded the club more than 260 times since its opening in September 2004.
Kirk said she appreciated Bass' efforts but thought city staffers should continue researching.
Council members instructed their staff to revise a resolution that would alert the Department of Transportation to traffic problems in Crystal River. The original resolution asked the DOT to lower the city's speed limit by 10 mph.
Some council members expressed concern that this would increase congestion. In the revised resolution, the city will express concern about speeding but also ask for suggestions on traffic-calming mechanisms.
The council instructed staffers to create an ordinance that would allow the continuation of the Waterfronts Board as a volunteer organization with staff support. The board was created as an ad-hoc committee, but members said they thought they were doing valuable work and would like the group to continue even though it no longer has grant funding.
During a premeeting workshop, the council weighed the pros and cons of transferring development rights. Members decided not to set up such a program now but may look into the issue again.
Council members chose May 11 for a special meeting to select the top 10 candidates for city manager.