On August 24, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners created the American Beach Water and Sewer District by Ordinance 2020-26.  The purpose of the District, is to construct, and maintain water and sewer lines in the unincorporated area of the county within the boundaries of the District.

Ordinance 2020-26, Section 5. Advisory Board, was amended by Ordinance 2020-34 on October 28, 2020 to state the Advisory Board shall be appointed on or before May 1, 2021.  An integral part of the District, the Advisory Board shall represent the American Beach property owner's interests by monitoring and evaluating the design and construction of the public water distribution and wastewater collection system within the District boundaries.  The Advisory Board shall also consider matters related to and submitted by the District staff, to the Governing Body of the American Beach Water and Sewer District  regarding the design and construction of the system and may offer comments, if any, concurrently.  Comments relating to the design and construction of the system from community residents, property owners, resident groups, associations, and other owner-base organizations may be considered by the Advisory Board and provided to the District Board.

The Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution 2021-022 on February 17, 2021 which provides for procedures for the appointment to, administration of, and authority of the American Beach Water and Sewer District Advisory Board.

The application period for Advisory Board applicants was March 5th through March 19, 2021 at 5:00pm.  Advertisements for applications were made at a community meeting, local newspaper ad, direct mailings, mass e-mail and social media.  The county received fourteen applicants meeting minimum requirements.  County staff, including the County Manager, Assistant County Manager, Planning Director, Assistant Planning Director and Administrative Manager will conduct interviews with each applicant on March 26, 2021 and will provide recommendations to the District Board.

Per Resolution 2021-022, the District Board shall decide the appointment of individuals to serve on the Advisory Board at a publicly noticed meeting of the District Board which takes place after 6:00pm on a weekday evening.  The District Board will select five (5) qualifying individuals to serve on the Advisory Board.  Each member of the District Board shall make a single recommendation for appointment.  The final appointments shall be decided by a majority vote on the District Board after allowing for conversation.

Resolution 2021-022, also specifies member terms as follows:

• Advisory Board members will serve two-year staggered terms.
• There shall be no term limit.
• In year one, the appointments made by the District One (1) and District Two (2) representatives on the District Board shall serve a three (3) year term in order to create two-year staggered terms.  Thereafter, all appointees shall serve two-year terms.

If additional time is needed to review applicants, the appointment of the American Beach Water and Sewer District Advisory Board could be continued to a future meeting at the direction of the District Board.