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Worries don't stop water system despite objections

Residents say they can't afford the costs, but the county says it has no choice but to go ahead with the project.

By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET
Published June 28, 2006

INVERNESS - After more than three hours of heated debate Tuesday, county commissioners voted unanimously to set assessments to fund the construction of a central water system in Chassahowitzka.

Residents of the coastal community packed the County Commission chambers. During the meeting's public comment period, many of them urged commissioners to scrap the project because they could not afford to pay for it. Most of the audience responded with applause and an occasional "Amen."

But commissioners said they had no choice but to go forward with the assessment program.

"I'm not sure we have an alternative," commission Chairman Gary Bartell said. "We're either going to fix this problem or we're not going to fix it."

Calculations by county staff members indicated that each residential unit in Chassahowitzka would have to pay at least $6,361.88 for the water project, in addition to a 6 percent interest rate and possible administrative fees.

Residents said they worried that the costs would be so high that they would lose their homes.

Chassahowitzka resident Jim Bennett apologized to his neighbors for encouraging them to support the push to bring central water to the community.

"I was misled, lied to and played like a cheap fiddle," he said.

Now, he said, he's worried that people will be forced to sell their homes.

He described the project as a "travesty" and accused commissioners of violating the public trust.

"You may still have the chance to help us, but I won't be holding my breath," Bennett said.

Matthew Corona told commissioners that Chassahowitzka residents were "families struggling to make it on an income already stressed."

Bringing water and wastewater service to the community would change it forever, he said.

Bartell, whose district includes Chassahowitzka, has been a vocal proponent of bringing water and sewer to the area. On Tuesday, he said he understood the dilemma that residents faced.

"The issue does not have to do with the need," he said. "It has to do with how we pay for it. I don't know the answer. I don't know any magical wand that we can wave in front of this."

Commissioner Jim Fowler said an idea he proposed earlier this year was a possible solution: capping assessments.

"These things are not going to get cheaper. I just don't know how we could in good conscience allow someone to lose their homestead to correct an environmental problem that was not of their making," he said.

But he said the water and sewer project in Chassahowitzka was "a done deal."

"This is going to happen, but you shouldn't have to pay 100 percent of the cost," he said.

The water and sewer projects in Chassahowitzka have been in a tailspin since August after the county received only one bid, from Danella Construction Corp. The $11.1-million bid was more than double original estimate.

At that time, the county had secured about $4-million in state grants for the project. To make up the difference, county officials originally said they would have to levy assessments of more than $10,000.

Commissioners decided to separate the water and sewer portions of the project to cut down on its costs.

But director of public works Glenn McCracken said Tuesday that decision may have ultimately cost the county more money.

"We thought we were doing the right thing by trying to get additional bids," Bartell said. "It didn't work out that way."

The county is slated to receive $2-million in additional state funding for the project, which will help pay for the construction of the sewer system.

Bartell also asked county staffers to look into establishing a 20-year payment option for residents, rather than limiting it to 10 years. County staff members will also look into adjusting the county's administrative fees and evaluate how future developments outside the assessment district could help pay for the water and sewer projects.

The cost of assessments to pay for the sewer portion of the project has not yet been calculated.

Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at cshoichet@sptimes.com or 860-7309.

[Last modified June 28, 2006, 07:49:31]