Discussion
of Issues
Issue 1:
Should the Commission acknowledge Resolution No.
2024R-13 by the Board of County Commissioners of Columbia County?
Recommendation:
Yes. The Commission should acknowledge Resolution
No. 2024R-13 by the County Commissioners of Columbia County, effective May 16,
2024. All non-exempt, privately-owned water and wastewater utilities in Columbia
County should be directed to comply with the provisions of Chapter 367, F.S.
(M. Watts, Dose)
Staff Analysis:
On May 16, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners
of Columbia County passed and adopted Resolution No. 2024R-13, which transfers
jurisdiction over the County's privately-owned water and wastewater utilities
to the Commission. The Resolution contained a list of the privately-owned water
and wastewater utilities, which were regulated by Columbia County on May 16,
2024. In addition, staff has contacted the County requesting information on
each utility’s current rates, charges, and territory served. Since they are now
subject to Chapter 367, F.S., each utility must continue to collect the rates
and charges for water and wastewater service which were being collected on May
16, 2024, until changed by the Commission.
Staff has contacted the Florida Department of Environment
Protection (DEP) to advise it of the Resolution, and to obtain a list of all
privately-owned water and wastewater facilities in Columbia County, which the DEP
monitors for environmental compliance. The utilities identified by the County
and the DEP will receive a letter from Commission staff advising them of the
transfer of jurisdiction and providing them with information to determine
whether or not they are exempt from Commission regulation pursuant to Section
367.022, F.S.
Entities which are not exempt from Commission regulation
will receive instruction for filing an application for grandfather
certificates. The resulting applications will be processed in individual
dockets. These applicants will also be advised of their responsibility to file
an annual report for 2024, pursuant to Rule 25-30.110, Florida Administrative
Code (F.A.C.), as well as their responsibility to remit Annual Regulatory
Assessment Fees (RAFs). The applicants will also be advised of their right to
file for a pass-through of RAFs should they not be currently collecting RAFs,
or if they are collecting a lesser amount than they would be paying to the
Commission.
Staff recommends that the Commission acknowledge
Resolution No. 2024R-13 by the County Commissioners of Columbia County,
effective May 16, 2024. All non-exempt, privately-owned water and wastewater
utilities in Columbia County should be directed to comply with the provisions
of Chapter 367, F.S.
Issue 2:
Should this docket be closed?
Recommendation:
This docket should remain open to process letters to
water and wastewater operators and their subsequent responses. Upon staff’s
verification that the final response from a water or wastewater system operator
affirming exemption status has been received, and that no further action is
necessary, this docket should be closed administratively. (Dose)
Staff Analysis:
This docket should remain open to process letters to
water and wastewater operators and their subsequent responses. Upon staff’s
verification that the final response from a water or wastewater system operator
affirming exemption status has been received, and that no further action is
necessary, this docket should be closed administratively.
