Agenda - 01-16-1997 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Other members of the Task Force have noted that equity is achieved in a number of different ways, that system improvements for the Economic Development Districts are funded with sales tax revenues and not ad valorem taxes, and that in some cases complete recovery of costs by those benefiting from extension of service is not possible for socio-economic reasons (as in the Efland sewer project). The current draft agreement contains alternative language in Section I.D.3 that illustrates the difference of opinion among the Task Force. 3. Lome-Term Interest Areas and Essential Public Facilities One of the provisions of the draft boundary agreement is the creation of"Long-Term Interest Areas." These areas represent regions outside of current service boundaries where service is not anticipated, but where some extension by a designated provider may be required if public health emergencies or essential public facilities warrant. The OWASA Long-Term Interest Area-where OWASA would be the designated provider for such service if needed-includes the Rural Buffer(including University Lake Watershed),Bingham Township (including Cane Creek Watershed)and an area of southwestern Cheeks Township. The concept of essential public facilities is found in the County Water and Sewer Policy, and a draft definition(which has not yet been reviewed by the Task Force)would define an essential MLbfic facility as "a publicly-owned facility that provides a service for the health., safety and general welfare of County residents. Essential public facilities may be defined here as a school, fire station, public safety substation or solid waste convenience center, etc." 1 4 Some Task Force members have expressed concerns with the County Water and Sewer Policy provision for essential public facilities. The difference of opinion on this subject relates again to concerns over extension into the Rural Buffer and which party(ies) should have jurisdiction over this decision. Two alternative paragraphs are currently found in the draft in Section 11(Definitions). One states that OWASA will not extend service into the Long-Term Interest Area unless action is required to address a public health emergency or essential public facility. The second adds that concurrence of all parties to the Joint Planning Agreement should be obtained"prior to the extension of utilities into or through the Rural Buffer." Summary The above issues are the primary areas where differences of opinion have been identified, and are the issues on which alternative language has been drafted. It should be noted that the Task Force has not completed a full review of the September 4 draft of the boundary agreement. As such, there are other issues that will likely engender discussion at future meetings - such as a possible role for OWASA in the approval process for alternative wastewater systems in their Long-Term Interest Area.