§ 40-42. Creation of utilities commission.

(a)

The County Council hereby creates the county utilities commission; an agency or department of the county, to exercise and perform all acts conferred in this article.

(b)

The county utilities commission (hereafter referred to as the commission), is created to:

(1)

Coordinate the cooperative planning of facilities and the delivery of water by all water suppliers which now provide these services in the county. (The commission will recognize the existing structure of water suppliers and work within that structure to ensure that all present and future needs are met. Regional connections of multiple distribution systems and sharing of water supplies will be encouraged.)

(2)

Work with any water supplier to expand when that is an efficient procedure to meet needs. When expansion is not an efficient procedure, to then seek a solution through cooperative agreements between existing suppliers or through providing county water services.

(3)

Encourage the development of joint agreements with boards or councils to provide large water capacities to selected industrial development sites.

(4)

Encourage the development, contracting and operation of water and wastewater treatment systems to provide necessary services in industrial, commercial, and residential areas of the county and the surrounding region.

(c)

The commission shall have the authority to advise and counsel the County Council concerning matters pertaining to water and wastewater services.

(Code 1985, § 19-41; Ord. No. 92-230, § 1, 5-12-1992; Ord. No. 97-334, § 1, 11-25-1997)