Water project deal on table

Pinecrest is now considering a compromise - helping pay costs - so the city can proceed with the controversial county water project.

By Yolanne Almanzar | [email protected]

The village is considering a compromise with homeowners who are against the county water project by proposing to help pay for some of the more expensive hookups.

About 50 people were at Evelyn Greer Park, 8200 SW 124th St., as the village council discussed using the nearly $5 million received from Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department and the state to build what it calls the spine of the system, or the basic infrastructure along designated roads.

Then once that spine is finished, the city would try to help about 1,200 homeowners pay for hooking up to the spine that would not be near their homes.

“I think there are people who don’t want to wait and have the money to do this,” council member Gail D. Serota said. “I think we should pay attention to them.”

According to county regulations, any person living along the spine cannot be charged for its construction. However, these people will be charged for hooking up.

More than 300 Pinecrest homes would be on the spine route and would have to pay an estimated $3,500 to hook up.

In contrast, hooking up would cost about $18,000 for about 1,200 homes with wells not on the spine route.

They would need to pay for pipe installation and hookups.

Under the intended compromise, these people would get help from the village in paying for the costs. Mayor Gary C. Matzner said the council will not make a decision about providing financial assistance until the cost for the spine’s construction is finalized.

Council members are concerned about the lack of fire hydrants in these areas, as well as the vulnerability of well water to contamination by salt water and other metals.

A survey sent out last summer to determine how many were in favor of paying got a 70 percent response, with 60 percent in favor of the project.

When residents protested, a second survey was sent out last November. More than 70 percent responded, with 55 percent against the project.

With this new compromise on the table, opponents to the water plan are most concerned about the county regulation that requires people to hook up to the system within five years, a rule that has never been enforced, according to the mayor.

The council is hoping to go back to the county and ask for more time to hook up.

The council discussed creating an ordinance that would allow people to petition for a special assessment.

Under this plan, a certain portion of neighborhood homeowners must agree that they want county water.

Though council member Serota mentioned having 60 percent support from the people, the council would not finalize a number until a later date.

An official resolution regarding construction of the spine is planned for the next village meeting on Feb. 12.

“We’re not initiating this. This has to come from people who want it,” Serota said. “We’re not imposing the assessment. We’re assisting.”

The council will also be looking into the possibility of subsidizing the cost to connect to county water or “reduce it by some percent as an encouragement to hook up,” Matzner said.

The council would provide the engineering and construction plans for neighborhoods that decide to hook up in the future. The council mentioned charging a fee for this service.

Cindy Lerner, one of the leaders of The Voice of Pinecrest, the opposition group formed against the county water project, said she would prefer to see the issue put on a ballot and have the entire village vote.

Vice Mayor Nancy L. Harter disagreed with her.

“I haven’t talked to anyone who has county water who would agree to be taxed,” she said.

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HARTER

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