Right-of-way inspection fees for utilities

55:25Um one other thing. Um Um I had heard that there was some new fees and I think uh Mr. Kabala and I talked about it a little bit. But there was a new fee that affected um Electric companies based on uh changing out polls and right aways and it was like I think like three hundred dollars a pole. Um from my understanding it never had been charged before, but then that all of a sudden it shows

55:56up. And Any fee that is charged any company in our Um in our county, I think 'Cause 'cause I don't know that we had a open discussion about it at the board with with all our members. I don't know how this came about, but um I think anything we're gonna charge that charges a business or citizen in this county that this board ought to be looking at it. And um you

56:26know, really researching it and be sure it's the right thing for our county. not just uh fees show up one day and we're not really aware of it. So Mike, you wanna answer something to that that effect?

56:41Um

56:43Yes, sir. So the fee that is being referred to is is a right-of-way inspection fee. Uh yes, that was not normally charged. Um to a lot of a lot of places. In fact, as part of our uh re revamping some of our departments and trying to get them to be more self sufficient, we we resorted to, you know, along with development services, we came up with a new fee structure. And that is just to reimburse our costs for doing right-of-way um inspections. And so,

57:13what we have done, however, is because there are a number of issues right now with communications uh providers as well, we've we've gone and suspended those fees in the interim while we take a look at how do we perhaps better streamline the right-of-way use process for utility providers such as electric and gas. So that is something that we are working on. That fee has been suspended.

57:42Could we do any inspection or anything for these fees?

57:47So I have not seen the report. I have asked to see how we arrived at the $300 fee and what those actual inspections entail. I don't have an answer for you, but it is a question that I have asked.

57:57But this one is uh has come about because the change of um I guess engineering. It used to be under uh building department, now is under the utility department. Is that it?

58:09Well no, this is this is engineering services. And and they're their inspections group. And so we're we were looking to a better align our costs with with those who received the benefit of of those costs. Costs. And that was that was what was developed and came up with. Again, I don't have the exact numbers, how many hours or full-time equivalents it takes to go out and perform one of those inspections and under what circumstances those inspections are. But those are things that we are looking into. In fact, we're looking at revamping the process instead of making perhaps individual

58:39permit applications. Perhaps we can move to an annual type system, something that would streamline it and make

58:46Right. The issue is I mean um The different electric companies, I'm sure they're out If they're doing their job they're out replacing poles a lot. In certain areas. making their their polls and all ready for the bad weather and everything that might be coming in the future. So if they let it go and it gets terrible they don't get refunded by FEMA or anybody else if If they don't keep those up to uh the regular standards what they need to be for the storms and all. So

59:17Uh But is that that new fees that were not charged in the engineering services prior to them coming over to utilities?

59:25It is my understanding that a fee was not charged uh previously. Correct. There was no fee charge. Okay.

59:32Well shouldn't shouldn't that come before this board we discuss and decide?

59:37Well Can I jump in real quick? So um The question is, and you know, Commissioner Oakley just uh brought it up too, so what is the you know, how much time is an FTE obviously spending on this process? Are they actually and I know the answer is no, but I mean as in they're not going out inspecting the actual Pull after it's installed, from my

1:00:01correct? They are not expecting the technical work, they are looking at the right-of-way to ensure that the right-of-way still meets our standards and is safe. So does that mean they're they are

1:00:09driving out to the site to look at that right-of-way for every I'm gonna use the word pole. Um structure. structure, how about we use structure that is placed by utility company. When we say utility company, you're talking you're you're saying electric you know, let's say power companies as well as cable Um FIOS for a telephone company, whatever it may be. Utilities in general.

1:00:37Right. I want to I want to confirm that. Okay. And what exactly uh has gone into that $300 fee. And again, that that will go into this more comprehensive there's a better way to do business, I think, with utility providers which are in our right of way. And we all have to exist there. And so we want to make sure that we can balance keeping the public safe and being efficient so that way they can provide their vital services as well.

1:00:59I think the last thing Lots coming on Make sure we don't want to be a deterrent. As Commissioner Oakley just stated, if they're coming in and making replacements If we determine them for making replacements that could not be might not be in the best interest of our of our citizens in the community if that were to obviously happened. So if it's a deterrent for somebody to go r make a replacement down the road It's a life safety issue, possibly, right? Something

1:01:30to think about. Commissioner Weightman.

1:01:32Yeah and and Mike, I know we've discussed this and you know I know the cable companies are exempt which doesn't make sense because they're the ones using contractors, they're the ones ripping up our lines. They're the ones we're spending a lot of time out there with and I know we don't ex we do not inspect the electric companies now. Um my issue is even as early as last week we still charge we're gonna charge the fee until I called you and then you took care of it. So I don't know if we need to make a motion today to make the fee disappear until you relook at it. But that's my issue. We're

1:02:02still not all on the same page with all staff Like I said, literally as early as last week I had to deal with Us saying other's a fee and then With the Coochie called me and then Tycho called me on something a couple of weeks ago, so I I just I know it came before us. Um I take responsibility for that, but once again, kinda like earlier with the trans the transportation thing was kind of jumbled in with some other things that Again, this should have the stakeholders should have been involved with this. Um they're been great partners, all of them. Um they are great partners and

1:02:32we want to include them going forward with whatever we think is best for obviously, you know, to pay for our expense, whatever expense there is. So Um I that's only my concern with you suspending it is So I I don't it's up to the board, but I I don't know if you all hear it, I know that I have and la as early as last

1:02:53week. So just

1:02:53want

1:02:54to throw that out there.

1:02:56Is it just gonna automatically show up one day as a fee to somebody and we'd not be able to Discuss it or not. Go forward or should we have a Have a motion that holds it suspended until we hear back from y'all on the answers. So we make sure it's the right thing to be doing.

1:03:15So it's on it's on your fee schedule today. Yeah, and we because of the communication services issue and the preemption where we can't charge them

1:03:28Yeah. You know, we Mike suspended it. Yep. Obviously the board can do w what the board desires. I I will say that There are inspections that we do. If the if the company that requires the inspection isn't gonna pay for that then the Uh ultimately it's a general fund that has to cover that cost. So and that's kinda what's happening today with the communication service company is uh the general fund is covering the cost of us going out there to make sure that

1:03:58those companies aren't damaging our right-of-way. I. Our pavement. our structures, our things. So Yeah. We can continue with it suspended while we go through this process. I actually ultimately think we go to an annual permit process with an annual permit. to include the permit because they still pay the permit fee. They submit the right-of-way permit, they still pay the permit fee for that. But we go to an annual process so they don't have to come in every

1:04:28single time they do something. They just notice us. I think that already happens in Pinellas. I think Hillsboro already has something similar to that. I think that's probably where we need to be. But w but but it's gonna take us a little time to get there.

1:04:44Mr. Yes,

1:04:45go ahead, Commissioner Weightman. Suspend it until we uh get I guess find out some history or something that bring it back to us and we discuss it.

1:04:53I've already suspended it, but if the board would like to Reaffirm that I it's your purview.

1:05:02Mr. Chairman Mariano.

1:05:02Yes,

1:05:03sir. Go ahead.

1:05:04Yeah one thing with any time a utility is being charged a fee. It's gonna get passed on to the customer. Now with Lacucci probably doesn't mark up. But I'm sure Duke does. Um I think it's something you know to to think uh anyone in the county's paying these fees no matter what it is, it's just how they get how it gets to them. So the the more we can take it out, uh, the quicker the better. Um you guys wanna bring us back something, I'm okay to wait on it. Uh we can Say we're gonna permanently end this anyway and

1:05:34you can bring back something uh another alternative to us, that's fine. Um So I'm comfortable if someone m if one wanna make a motion for that now, that's good. And then we'll make them bring something back to us when They've got a resolution, whether it be the annual fee or whatever it may be.

1:05:50Is part of those fe I'm talking about one thing about change of polls, but i are there other fee that's haven't been charged that's gonna be also in that group?

1:05:58So it would be any inspection that's required of those groups within the right of way. So if they're changing out the polls, if they're setting a new service or whatever work that they might do, that's where that that inspection fee. And that's why I want to go ahead and do a comprehensive review of what probably needs to be inspected more frequently than others and again, you know, looking at annual subscription.

1:06:19Yeah. Just to assure that it comes back before us when you're ready. When you've done that research and bring it back. I'd like to make a motion that we suspend it until that time and then Uh we'll look at it and it'd be noticed so So everybody's on board to understand what the fees are for and their um I mean if it's a new fee then we we really need to know that too, so Um so I I'd make that motion now.

1:06:45Second. I have a motion in a second. Any more discussion, uh Mr.

1:06:49Biles? Well my concern is that

1:06:53our utility companies that get right away permits and pay an inspection fee. Uh developers do that. I mean the other people get right away permits and the inspection fee I think applies. there as well, so can we s at least separate out that this is really for the maintenance of existing facilities and not necessarily for the in those types of permits versus new construction and new development. We don't have you know, we we do have you know The board kinda has a policy that development needs

1:07:24to pay for development. Yeah.

1:07:27Well I understand that. I'm not talking about a new development coming in and you have fees you charge. I'm not talking about those. I'm talking about the ones that are gonna affect uh I guess that a utility provider.

1:07:43changed out twenty five or thirty poles at one time, you know, that type thing. So That's not a new development, it's it's keeping their lines up to the standards. So that's what I'm talking about.

1:07:56Oh we all okay.

1:07:58Yeah, okay.

1:08:01Okay. So we have a motion and a second on that. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

1:08:08Sorry, it was a motion by Commissioner Oakley and a second by Commissioner Oriano.

1:08:11Thank you. District one, Commissioner Oakley. Aye. District three, Commissioner Starkey. Aye. District four, Commissioner Wells. Aye. District five, Commissioner Mariano. Aye. District two, Chairman More. Aye.

1:08:23Motion passes five zero.