§ 126-112. Authority of the Board.

The Board has the authority to:

(1)

Grant franchises for the operation of Public Utilities, and prescribe and enforce regulations for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Sarasota County, Florida, including, but not limited to, water quality and supply, fire protection, disaster preparedness, and collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater;

(2)

Prescribe, after a public hearing, fair and reasonable classifications of service, standards of quality and measurement for equipment used, and service rules and regulations to be observed by every Public Utility;

(3)

Prescribe, after a public hearing, uniform systems and classifications of accounts to be kept by Public Utilities and the books, papers and records to be maintained and the manner in which the books, records and papers shall be maintained;

(4)

Determine and set, after public hearing, the rates, fees and charges that may be collected by a Public Utility for its services, except that changes in rates for pass through and indexing are exempt from this public hearing requirement;

(5)

Require every Public Utility to charge a fair and reasonable sum as an operating expense for depreciation and to credit the sum so charged to a depreciation reserve which shall be charged with retirement of depreciable property from service;

(6)

Ascertain and fix the value of the whole or any part of the property of any Public Utility as necessary to exercise the Board's jurisdiction;

(7)

Require Public Utilities to file annual reports of a uniform content and form as prescribed by the Board;

(8)

Require any Public Utility to submit special reports or other information regarding any matter about which the Board deems necessary to enforce any of the provisions of this article or any rules and regulations made pursuant to it;

(9)

Prescribe and collect, after public hearing, reasonable fees for the administration and enforcement of this article;

(10)

Employ and fix the compensation of Hearing Examiners, accountants, and technical, legal and clerical employees necessary to carry out this article;

(11)

Prescribe, after a public hearing, rules and regulations reasonably necessary and proper for administration and enforcement of this article;

(12)

Enter on any property occupied by any Public Utility at any reasonable time, and to set up and use thereon all necessary equipment to make investigations, inspections, examinations and tests, or to exercise any power under this article, provided that the Public Utility has the right to reasonable notice of, and to be represented at, the making of any investigations, inspections, examinations and tests;

(13)

Expend public funds for the installation of a system of fire hydrants and supply pipes, together with necessary accessories, to provide fire protection in areas served by a Public Water System; the cost of such an installation shall be prorated by the County to all properties in the area to be served, whether improved or unimproved;

(14)

Authorize the owner of property on which multiple residential or commercial units are located, or a Person otherwise lawfully in control of that property, to engage in the not-for-profit resale of water and/or wastewater service to the consumers occupying the individual residential or commercial units located on the property; and

(15)

Construct, operate and maintain publicly owned water and wastewater utilities, and enter into agreements with other governmental bodies, Public Utilities and other legal entities, including individuals, for all legal purposes connected with such construction, operation and maintenance, including, but not limited to, agreements with Franchisees for the reservation of specific quantities of water supply, water or wastewater treatment capacity, or the sale or purchase of water and wastewater services.

(Ord. No. 2016-041, § 2, 9-21-2016)