Charlotte County Utilities
Expansion Projects - Municipal Service Benefit Units
Rotonda Sands and Meadows wastewater expansion MSBUs
UPDATED: October 2008
What are the Rotonda Sands/Rotonda Meadows Wastewater Expansion MSBUs? In 2006, the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved two Municipal Service Benefit Units (MSBUs) for wastewater system expansions in Rotonda Sands and Rotonda Meadows.
What is the status of this project? Consultant Boyle Engineering was selected to complete the final design, which was completed in early 2008. Construction began in May 2008 and is expected to be completed in early 2009, though this timeline is subject to change. Construction began in Rotonda Sands and will continue to Rotonda Meadows once a majority of the Sands project is completed.
What are the costs associated with the MSBUs? Costs associated with the MSBUs include design, engineering, surveying, construction, land purchases if necessary, interest on borrowing and other indirect costs. The current cost to individual property owners is $225.94 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU), per year for 20 years for Rotonda Sands and $223.57 per ERU, per year for Rotonda Meadows. Each year, the MSBU is reconciled and adjustments to the rate are computed. The assessment cannot be raised without public notification and BCC approval.
Beginning in the second year of the assessment, property owners have the option of pre-paying the remaining amount in full, without incurring interest charges for any project loans not yet taken. Once construction is completed, the pre-payment amount will include all interest charges associated with construction loans. Find the current pre-payment amount on a property.
What other costs can I expect? The MSBU assessment covers only the specific project costs of the infrastructure installation, including collection lines, lift stations and other appurtenances needed to serve the community as a whole.At the time of individual connection to this central collection system, additional costs will be incurred by each homeowner for the installation of the onsite individual low pressure sewer (LPS) system, as well as standard CCU connection fees and Accrued Guaranteed Revenue Fees. These fees are defined and described in CCU’s Rate Resolution and are subject to change by the Board of County Commissioners. Each homeowner is also responsible for contracting a licensed electrician to create a dedicated electrical circuit for the LPS control panel.
Connection fees are defined and described in CCU’s Rate Resolution and are subject to change by the Board of County Commissioners. View the current Rate Resolution.
What is a Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU)? MSBUs are created by County ordinance as a funding mechanism to provide specific services to defined areas. The major benefit is that costs for services within a specific area are evenly assessed on each property within the unit. In this case, MSBUs were created specifically to fund the installation of wastewater infrastructure in Rotonda Sands and Rotonda Meadows.
In an MSBU, revenue is derived from non-ad valorem assessments (literally, “no value,” meaning the assessment is not based on the value of the individual properties). This assessment is certified to the tax collector for collection and appears on your tax bill as a separate line item. All monies collected within a specific MSBU must be spent within that MSBU. Funds cannot be transferred or spent on a different area.
The annual cost of the projects in each MSBU is divided by the total number of ERUs within that MSBU, resulting in an assessment per ERU. ERUs may be calculated based on front footage, lots, acreage or value. The method used for each MSBU is defined in its resolution. More information on MSBUs.
Why am I being assessed more than one ERU? The number of ERUs per tax account is determined based upon criteria outlined in the resolution creating the MSBU (#2006-066 Rotonda Sands; #2006-067 Rotonda Meadows). Generally, the number of ERUs per tax account is based upon zoning, current development, and acreage within each tax parcel.
What is Low Pressure Sewer (LPS)? An LPS system consists of a holding tank and a small, submersible pump. Generally, the tank is installed in the front yard, below the ground surface, opposite the driveway, at least five feet from the building. Wastewater is pumped automatically through a low-pressure line that transports it to a lift station, which, in turn, pumps it to a County facility for treatment. More information on low pressure sewer.
How will I connect to the collection system? For new construction, CCU will provide a list of approved LPS contractors and will inspect and approve all work once the installation is complete.
For developed properties, CCU will work with property owners to convert the existing septic system to an LPS system. Once the property owner requests service and pays the CCU wastewater connection fees, CCU staff will make an appointment to locate and inspect the existing septic system and deliver the LPS control panel. The homeowner is responsible for contracting a licensed electrician to create a dedicated electrical circuit and install the control panel. Once CCU is notified that the panel has been installed, CCU staff will return to perform the LPS installation, which, in most cases, should take no more than a few hours.
Who is responsible for maintenance? Once the individual LPS system is installed and accepted, CCU will maintain it as part of its collection system. Each LPS system includes an audible and visual alarm to alert the customer if there is a problem. If the alarm sounds, the resident is asked to push the alarm silence button and call the number on the control panel. A CCU LPS technician will immediately be dispatched to investigate the cause of the alarm and make any necessary repairs.
What if there’s a power failure? In the event of an area-wide power failure, the LPS pump will not operate however, there is a built-in amount of reserve capacity in the holding tank, which allows limited water usage (toilets and limited showering; no laundering or other excessive use) until the power is back on line. During an extended power failure or outage, such as we experienced after Hurricane Charley, CCU will try to provide a manual pump out of each individual LPS tank once every three days.
Will the LPS system have an odor? The LPS system is a closed system which normally doesn’t allow sewer fumes to escape to the atmosphere. Fumes could migrate to a building if there is a problem with the internal plumbing, such as a clogged or malfunctioning P-trap, which should be addressed by a private plumbing service.
Will the County replace my landscaping? Will the roads be re-paved? The County will do its best to replace any landscaping disturbed by this project to its original or better condition. Roadways that are impacted by this project will be patched or repaved as needed.
For more information: If you have further questions about the Rotonda Sands and Meadows wastewater expansion, please contact Customer Service at 941.764.4300.
