HomeMy WebLinkAbout30787 - MINUTES - City Commission MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING
DANIA CITY COMMISSION
MAY 12, 1975
I . Present: Mayor: Robert Duncanson
Vice Mayor: John Bertino
Commissioners: Frank Adler
Robert Donly
John Kay
City Attorney: Jack Milbery
Assistant to City Manager: Charles McNally
City Auditor: Joe Spina
City Engineer: John Farina
Planning and Zoning Board
2. All the members of the Planning and Zoning Board were present to be briefed on the
Financial Disclosure Law. The Mayor opened the Conference Room so that City Attorney
Milbery could take the Planning and Zoning members into a separate room and discuss
the Financial Disclosure Law with them while the Commission proceeded with the dis-
cussion on the next item on the agenda.
3. Assistant to the City Manager McNally began the discussion on the revised Water and
Sewer ordinances. Mr. McNally explained that the two north wells have gone bad, and
another well is needed in addition to the two south wells that are still in operation.
The two wells in the south field are not sufficient, and the proposal is to build
another well in the south field and two wells in the west well field. City Engineer
Farina upheld Mr. McNally's figures based on his own separate calculations. He was
asked if going West to dig another well was the best and least expensive solution.
lie said that it was, that putting the wells farther west would keep their salt content
down. The question arose as to whether it would be cheaper in the long run to use
methods to reduce the salinity so that the water would become potable again, because
the wells in the Revenswood area may not be operable after five years. Mr. McNally
feels that the techniques for reducing salinity are not developed enough to use at
the present time, and if the wells are put in the Ravenswood area and do go bad in five
years, the City would only be out a relatively small amount of money spread over a
five year period. If these wells in the Ravenswood area do go bad, there is room to
expand to the West, and the lines will already have been laid. To summarize, Mr.
Farina concurs with Mr. McNally's figures as to their feasibility and accuracy.
City Auditor Spina then spoke on the City's financial ability to absorb the cost,
estimated at nearly one million dollars ($1,000,000) , if the increased water rate is
adopted. Ile based his calculations on several different ways of borrowing money, for
example, getting a committment for the money but leaving it in the bank until it is
needed, or borrowing the money on an as needed basis, or borrowing all the money at the
beginning. His recommendation was the first solution. He has come to the conclusion
that the new wells and improvements will be paid for in five years, with surplus
revenues remaining at the end of the five years, if the new water rate is initiated.
Vice Mayor Bertino suggested contacting other sources to see if the City could obtain a
lower interest borrowing rate than the 6% that would probably be charged by the local
banks, perhaps by contacting H.U.D. Mayor Duncanson pointed out that this would be a
good idea, but to remember that time is of the essence when the water supply is involved.
Mr. McNally then gave a summary of the revised sewer rates. Mr. Spina declined to
comment as he had not had the opportunity to review the figures. The Commission re-
quested that Mr. Spina look at the fugures and give his view point on these in a
written form to the Commission no later than Friday afternoon, May 16, so they could
study for action on May 19.
/ Robert H. Dunce eon - Mayor
Wanda Mullikin - City Clerk
City Commission 1- May 12, 1975