The Sewer Utility shall provide notification to all owners of Developed Property within a Sewer Service Area not already connected to the Sewer Utility as follows:
(A) Initial notification. The initial notification shall notify all owners of Developed Property within the Sewer Service Area of the anticipated availability of the Sewer Utility. The initial notification shall be sent no less than one (1) year prior to the anticipated date on which the Sewer Utility will become available within the Service Area and shall be deemed delivered on the date the notification is deposited in the U.S. mail. The initial notification shall provide the following:
(1) If the Developed Property is currently connected to a properly functioning OSTDS, the OSTDS owner must connect to the Sewer Utility within one (1) year after receiving notification that the Sewer Utility is available for connection;
(2) If the OSTDS needs repair or modification to function in a sanitary manner to comply with the requirements of Fla. Stat. §§ 381.0065 - 381.0067, or rules adopted under those sections, the OSTDS owner must connect to the Sewer Utility within ninety (90) days after receiving notification that the Sewer Utility is available for connection;
(3) Within ninety (90) calendar days of connection to the Sewer Utility, at his/her own expense, the property owner shall either: (i) properly abandon any existing OSTDS in accordance with applicable county and state laws and codes; or (ii) receive approval from the department of health to use the abandoned septic tank as an irrigation cistern; and
(4) The property owner shall pay the specified sewer Connection Fee in effect at the time of connection, subject to any financial programs or incentives which may be in effect at that time. The property owner shall have the option of prepaying the amortized value of required Connection Fees in equal monthly installments over a period not to exceed two (2) years from the date of the initial notification of anticipated availability.
(B) Final notification. The final notification shall notify all owners of Developed Property within the Sewer Service Area not already connected to the Sewer Utility that service is available. Notice shall be deemed given on the date the notification is deposited in the U.S. mail. This notification shall state that service is available and that:
(1) If the Developed Property is currently connected to a properly functioning OSTDS, the OSTDS owner must connect to the Sewer Utility within one (1) year of such final notice informing the property owner that service is available;
(2) If the OSTDS needs repair or modification to function in a sanitary manner to comply with the requirements of Fla. Stat. §§ 381.0065 - 381.0067, or rules adopted under those sections, the OSTDS owner must connect to the Sewer Utility within ninety (90) days of such final notice;
(3) Within ninety (90) calendar days of connection to the Sewer Utility, at his/her own expense, the property owner shall either: (i) properly abandon any existing OSTDS in accordance with applicable county and state laws and codes; or (ii) receive approval from the department of health to use the abandoned septic tank as an irrigation cistern;
(4) Unless it has been prepaid, the property owner shall pay the specified sewer Connection Fee in effect at the time of connection, subject to any financial programs and/or incentives which may be in effect at that time.
(C) In the event sewer service is already available within an area at the time of the adoption of this Chapter, the Sewer Utility shall not be required to provide the initial notification described in subsection (A) hereof and may proceed directly to the final notification described in subsection (B). In such event, the final notice shall also state that the property owner shall have the option of prepaying the amortized value of required Connection Fees in equal monthly installments over a period not to exceed two (2) years from the date of such final notice.
(Ord. 2023-101, passed 11-2-23)