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Water Service and Membership Fees
Fees and Charges Assessment by the Property Owners Association
The Property Owners Association of Mysterious Waters, Inc. is a registered non-profit corporation which holds title to the community water system including the well site, pump, pressure tank, emergency generator, pipes and meters throughout the community. The Association also holds title to the park area adjacent to the river and to the community boat dock facilities (including canoe racks for use by property owners). By its charter, the Association is responsible for the maintenance and up-keep of all these facilities and, accordingly, has the authority to assess fees and charges necessary to execute these responsibilities. These fees are used to pay monthly utilities on the water system, property taxes, materials and labor (e.g. mowing the park) and to maintain a capital reserve for major repair or replacement. In addition, a significant portion of the current water use fees are being used to service a 20-year loan required to upgrade our water treatment and distribution systems to meet current DEP standards.
Fees
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Water Fees
The community water system provides the only water supply for property owners. The water system is maintained in accordance with all requirements for public water systems including 24-hour monitoring of chlorine concentration, on-site water quality tests six days per week and a series of required quarterly and annual chemical and biological assessments.
Membership Fees
Membership in the Association is established on the part of the property owners (no others may become members) by the payment of a one-time $10.00 membership fee (for either single or joint membership--no more than two members per property). Voting privileges at annual and special meetings of the Association are granted to those members who are current on all other fee assessments. In accordance with the original charter and the specific by-laws of the Association, a set of elected officers and trustees carry out policies and actions approved in annual and special meetings (as recorded in the minutes of these meetings). The following paragraphs provide a detailed summary of current fees and billing procedures adopted by the Association.
Water Fees
The community water system provides the only water supply for property owners (the property covenants preclude drilling of private wells in the community). The water system is maintained in accordance with all requirements for public water systems including 24-hour monitoring of chlorine concentration, on-site water quality tests six days per week and a series of required quarterly and annual chemical and biological assessments. The Association currently has contracted the regular monitoring and testing of water quality to an outside firm, Southern Water Services. In order to ensure that the integrity of this system is not threatened, an Association officer MUST be contacted if digging or construction is planned which might rupture a water line. If interested in a “new” service, please contact an officer to initiate the placement of a meter and associated plumbing.
The water fees are regularly discussed at the Association's annual meetings because funds are necessary not only to cover routine annual expenditures but also to build a capital reserve with which to repair and eventually replace system components as needed. The current fee structure was adopted at the October 24, 2021, annual meeting of the Association members.
Specific fees and assessments (as of October 24, 2021):
1. Hook-up: The initial cost for a “hook-up” to the water system is $750 which covers the water meter (which remains the property of the Association) as well as materials and installation costs for installing both the meter and outdoor water spigot for immediate use. If a water meter is already in place at a property site but service has been terminated (either by the owner or by the Association), there will be a $50.00 turn-on fee.
2. Water Use fees: The current water fee is $70.00 per month for the first 5,000 gallons used. There is an additional charge of $3.00 per 1,000 gallons (or fraction thereof) above the 5,000 gallon monthly base. While owners are encouraged to read their own meters on a regular basis, officers or representatives of the Association will read the meters once a month as a basis for sending out billing information. Owners or residents will be billed for any water which passes through the meter so they should monitor their water meter regularly if there is any suspicion of a leak on the owner’s side of the meter.
Payments are due 30 days from the day the bills are mailed.
If an owner or resident receives a billing indicating that payment is 60 or more days past due, notice will be given that water service will be terminated (typically in another 30 days) unless the delinquent amount is paid in full. If terminated, water service will be restored only upon full payment of the amount due plus a $50.00 turn-on fee. Owners who rent their property will be responsible for their tenant’s bill in case of non-payment and will be assessed the $50.00 turn-on fee if service is discontinued. Owners who rent have an obligation to inform the Association of the names of new residents at the time they assume residence.
3. Annual Maintenance Fee: A number of years ago the Association members voted to collect a general maintenance fee from all property owners. At the October 24, 2021, annual meeting, the Annual Maintenance Fee was raised to $200.00 per year for undeveloped lots. This fee is automatically waived for any lot for which water fees were assessed (a developed lot) and is reduced for undeveloped lots owned by a member who is already paying water fees on a developed lot. For example, a person who pays water fees (which include the maintenance charge) on one lot will pay only $12.00/year in maintenance fees for each additional undeveloped lot owned. For owners of a single undeveloped lot (without water service), the charge will be $200.00/year. For two or more undeveloped lots, a fee of $200.00/year will be applied to one lot and a reduced $12.00/year fee applied to each additional undeveloped lot. Bills for the maintenance fees are sent mid-summer each year. These fees make a significant contribution to the maintenance of the community park, shelter house, picnic tables, the dock, and the park entry gate.
Payments for any of the fees may be made by mail to Mysterious Waters Property Owners Association, 2 Mysterious Waters Road, Crawfordville, FL 32327, or deposited in the collection box adjacent to the community bulletin board at the main entrance.