Orange City seeks citizen water reporters

By Jennifer Horton
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jul 1, 2009 - 10:30:18am

The Orange City Council is working to establish a new set of eyes and ears to keep watch on the town's water future.

At their next meeting July 14, City Council members will name the citizens they'd like to have on the Citizen Alternative Water Committee.

The committee's goal is still being discussed, but the council has talked about wanting the committee to take a look at the bigger picture, to explore and research sustainable water, and to act as eyes and ears for the council members at water-related meetings council members cannot attend.

Like other West Volusia cities, Orange City is being told by the St. Johns River Water Management District that it will have to find costly new sources of water, and start pulling less water from the underground aquifer. Water rates are expected to rise astronomically.

The first step will be to identify members of the community who have an interest.

Council Member Tom Laputka brought up the concept of a citizen committee.

"I just think there's enough interest level at the citizen level," Laputka said.

He hopes the committee will provide help and insight, not just about alternative water, but sustainable water.

The bonus is, the committee won't cost the city anything.

Mayor Harley Strickland supported the idea, and said perhaps committee members would be able to attend and report on vital meetings council members are often not able to attend.

"I'd love somebody, for example, to attend the east-side Water Authority groups," Strickland said.

The mayor said East Volusia cities pulled out of the Water Authority of Volusia (WAV) "and now they're starting their own thing."

Strickland envisions not just warm bodies at meetings, but Orange City water reporters.

"We need people to attend those meetings and then report back," Strickland said. "We need people to be out in the community that help, and report back to this body, what's happening in these many different areas about our water."

Each of the seven City Council members is to nominate a resident at the next meeting.

Laputka was also collecting signatures of citizens who are interested in serving on the citizen committee.

When can you water?

Just a reminder of your new days

During daylight-saving time (March 8-Nov. 1):

No watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Mondays — no watering

Wednesday and Saturday — odd-numbered addresses.

Thursday and Sunday — even-numbered addresses.

Tuesday and Friday — nonresidential property.

During Eastern Standard time:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday — no watering

Saturday — odd-numbered addresses, and homes with no addresses

Sunday — even-numbered addresses

Tuesday— nonresidential property

Strickland votes for an unfunded mandate

Orange City adopts St. Johns watering ordinance

Orange City Mayor Harley Strickland broke his perfect streak and voted yes on an unfunded mandate.

"First one," he said.

Strickland was elected in 2007, and part of his platform was to take a stand against orders from bigger governments that force the city to take action, without providing any money to accomplish the mandate.

The St. Johns River Water Management District implemented lawn-watering rules that require all municipalities in the county to run on the same schedules. The Water Management District hopes to increase conservation, and make enforcement easier.

Orange City Public Works Director Paul Johnson told City Council members that if everyone is on the same lawn-watering schedule, confusion may be reduced, especially in circumstances when neighbors are residents of two different jurisdictions.

"So we're being told we have to do this?" Strickland asked.

Johnson confirmed the ordinance was provided by the St. Johns River Water Management District, and that it was required.

The ordinance passed 7-0.

Volusia County and DeLand have also adopted the new watering rules.

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

Comment on this article

Commenting is closed for this article.

If you would like to contribute a letter to the editor, please click here.

Did you find this story interesting or informative? Subscribe to The DeLand-Deltona Beacon to read more stories by Jennifer Horton, along with others from our award-winning writers. Subscribe now!