WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=aZV-1EWl3mA

Part: 1

1
00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:19.760
Lake Placid Council and the Regional Utility Advisor Commission. It's 20:06 on Thursday, July 6 July 16th. I now call this meeting to order. At this time, I'm going to ask Brandon

2
00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:36.000
Roberts, who's our interim utility director and operations manager for utilities, to lead us uh with the invocation. and then I'm going to ask our veteran uh Chief Snder to lead us with the pledge. So, if everybody could

3
00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:55.360
please rise. Let us pray. Dear heavenly Lord, we thank you for your love and your mercy. Lord, we uh we thank you for giving us the privilege to serve this great community community and the men and women that live here. Lord, we ask you

4
00:00:55.360 --> 00:01:12.320
to let us make the best decision for this community and Lord, [snorts] continue to put a hedge around uh this community and each and everybody that's here today. And we'll always give you the praise and the glory. In Christ Jesus name we do pray. Amen. >> Amen.

5
00:01:12.320 --> 00:01:36.560
I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Um, so Eva, would you please take

6
00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:54.000
the role? >> Mayor Charles, >> here. Council member Royce >> here. >> Council member Hayes >> here. >> Council member S. >> Council member Ebahart >> here. >> Regul Matt Elliot. >> John Draper. Tal Rancort. Pam Brewer

7
00:01:54.000 --> 00:02:09.119
>> here. >> Jack Connley >> here. >> Gary Freeman >> here. >> Bert Harris. >> Great. And we've got two new members I believe in the um utilities commission. Mr. Freeman, Mr. Harris, thank you for

8
00:02:09.119 --> 00:02:24.800
your service and welcome. And what a great time to get you involved. So, I've got a pretty full agenda. Our plan is to be done at four o'clock. And first up is Florida Florida Rural Water Association. They're going to do a

9
00:02:24.800 --> 00:02:41.200
presentation of the recent report that they just uh compiled. And I'm going to ask Patrick to come on up. Thank you. and um go ahead and lead us through that. >> Madame Mayor. >> Oh, excuse me. Yes, sir.

10
00:02:41.200 --> 00:02:56.959
>> Madame Mayor, if if you don't mind, if I could just take a couple of minutes, ask a couple quick questions. Having rejoined the council, been away from this all for a couple years. Just want to make sure I understand the fuller context of utilities if that's okay. >> Absolutely. Thank you. So, I just have a

11
00:02:56.959 --> 00:03:11.599
couple of very broad categories and maybe you can answer them and maybe others. Just so I understand um in regards to personnel, we have Mr. Roberts as the interim um utility director.

12
00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:29.519
What's what's his length of service look to be? Where are we in hiring a new one? Other words, what is personnel going to look like in the coming months or the next year? So, so Brandon's been two and a half years, Brandon, with the town as the operations

13
00:03:29.519 --> 00:03:46.959
manager. He holds dual licensings in water and in utilities. So, very experienced in that. Uh we recently well I shouldn't say recently I think it was about four months ago um the prior town

14
00:03:46.959 --> 00:04:03.760
administrator had put out a utilities director u job application and it's my understanding we had limited applications for that. So, and and let me just back up. When Bert Warner, the prior utility director, left, um, at

15
00:04:03.760 --> 00:04:20.560
that point, they asked Brandon to fill in as the acting utility director. And that's the role he's continued on. He's doing the dual role as running um the plants and the water and this and the wastewater and the utility. So, what

16
00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:36.800
I've recently done is we took a look at um that utility position and we elevated it and have sent out a new posting which would have the public works Allen and the operations [clears throat] manager Brandon report to that

17
00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:51.600
individual. So, right now we're in a recruiting phase of trying to get applicants for that. >> So, in the and and just real quick, excuse me, Council Member Royce, the void after um Bert Werner had left was

18
00:04:51.600 --> 00:05:08.080
to then ask Penoni to fill in along with Brandon as the operations manager. So, the two team and them together and at that time it was also Charlotte, you know, was helping out where the chief has been um pulling a lot of weight there. So it's kind of between the three

19
00:05:08.080 --> 00:05:24.639
of them. Clearly we need to fill that position. It's a critical con position. >> But it's Brandon's intention to remain in the employee of Lake Placid in the operations realm. >> Absolutely. >> Longer term. >> Absolutely. But not >> his interest is not to take the utility

20
00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:40.240
director. He loves and and I'm >> you can but he loves what he's doing in the um you know there's a few people that love wastewater and water and we're fortunate to have >> not going away in that capacity.

21
00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:57.039
>> No, I still plan on operations. I really want y'all to find a director. >> Okay. >> And uh I've got plenty other stuff to do. I will stay and do whatever I need to do. But yes. >> Great. That answers that whole question. I just want to make sure I understood that. and he's very qualified to do that. And Brandon, how long have you

22
00:05:57.039 --> 00:06:13.440
been with the town? >> Um, four months, it'll be four years. >> Okay. See, and I said two and a half. So, there four years with the town. So, very experienced on our operations. >> Okay. My my next question is, and I'm I've looked at a lot of different numbers, and I apologize for not knowing

23
00:06:13.440 --> 00:06:28.800
this. Four or five years ago, Mr. Harris got us $40 million grant and we envisioned a lot of things would happen with that $40 million, but it appears that basically we build a sewer plant with it. >> I've seen numbers anywhere from 34

24
00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:46.000
million to like the 40 million. When it's all said and done, what is that what is the new sewer plant going to in round round numbers? What is that sewer plant going to cost us? >> 40 million. >> 40. So it's going to take up the entire >> taking up the whole Right. Correct me,

25
00:06:46.000 --> 00:07:01.440
but my understanding is after it's all done, completed, it's the cut over of the existing flows from the old plant, it's picking up camp and conference center, and I think it's minimal to zero

26
00:07:01.440 --> 00:07:20.960
of new hookups. >> Real quick, um Roger Home with Penoni. Um the actual construction cost of the wastewater plant was somewhere in the order of it's like 33 million. Um there there were some other projects done also. There was a the south um

27
00:07:20.960 --> 00:07:36.479
wastewater plant was taken offline and there's a master pumping station that was built that was about a million. There were two other Marquada lift station main lift station were constructed and then a force main long force main about a $ 1.5 million force

28
00:07:36.479 --> 00:07:53.680
main from south to north. So that's >> so so long story short, it's basically taking the whole 45 million to kind of put the new operation into play. >> Yes. >> There is no there is not hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars for septic to sewer conversion. That money's

29
00:07:53.680 --> 00:08:10.800
all been spoken for. Okay. >> Correct. >> So So my next question is I guess I heard that Mr. Harris andor others had sought additional state or federal funding to the tune of several millions of dollars. Has any of that

30
00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:27.759
come to fruition to anyone's knowledge >> for hookups? For hookups? >> Yes. For hookups or just to spend as part of our wastewater program? We applied for the two and a half for a lot

31
00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:43.120
more, but ended up getting $2.5 million of federal money. The grant was awarded maybe three months ago. I'm not aware of whether anybody moved forward on implementation of that grant. The application was approved by town council

32
00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:59.200
several years ago. I believe haven't read it in several years. It related to extension around Lake Placid. >> Okay. >> So, so let me kind of jump in. So, we've not hooked up additional, >> right?

33
00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:16.080
>> We have, as we had on Monday's meeting, a kind of a summary of a lot of the various grants we had. >> Uh the 2 and a.5 million that Mr. Harris just talked about is one of those. There's a 319 grant that we just signed for like 31 homes. So, there's a uh we

34
00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:34.160
have a variety of grants that do allow us to start talking about the plan and the location to hook them up. Okay? >> But we're not there yet. That's a 2.5 million, there's a 319, there's a sham grant, there's a variety of them. And

35
00:09:34.160 --> 00:09:49.200
I'm not an expert yet, but those are the questions I'm diving into to say, okay, who's got this plan? It's going to be the regional utilities, right? To start talking about how much money, what exactly it's it for and to come back

36
00:09:49.200 --> 00:10:05.440
with a plan because clearly we got a plant that's going to go online. We've got an investment. We now do need to get a return from the investment. And that's going to be the hookups. >> And that's why I just want to make sure I I presume maybe everyone else understood the things I'm asking, but I just want to make sure as we talk about

37
00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:21.600
things that I understand the greater context that we're having conversations in. So there has not been any significant expansion plans beyond what you just alluded to. So there is there's nothing kind of on paper saying we're

38
00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:38.399
going to go expand into this area next. Correct. Not. That's what I thought. I mean and again it may be these 31 homes because of what we can do but there is no plan like we had before whereas originally what 3600 homes and 32 and we're going to do these locations

39
00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:53.600
and that there's not >> um just a couple more very quick ones. Obviously we've started service the camp and conference center I think you said the other night maybe a year and a half ago you've signed off the D signed off on their compliance agreement.

40
00:10:53.600 --> 00:11:10.880
Are we still working with them or with the state to get funding for a waterline to them? >> Yes. >> What's the what's I mean very broad. What's the very broad status of that? >> So that grant was approved with the um

41
00:11:10.880 --> 00:11:27.120
the SRF loan and that and who wants to take that one because that >> that would be Rachel, you know most about the the water. >> No, no, not not the funding. the funding we have, right? It's what's it's the process >> of closing.

42
00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:46.519
>> Oh, you're right. Because they're doing that, right? They've got that with their own uh Corbin and that and that started, right, Rachel? >> Yes. >> Water, >> right? >> Okay.

43
00:11:47.120 --> 00:12:03.519
in in order to have that second SRF which is already approved and I've signed off closing the wastewater SRF. We're waiting for them which we keep thinking is any day now, right? That gets closed and then they can kick off

44
00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:19.680
starting on the water SRF. >> I understand but you understand that we thought it was any any day now several years ago but uh that's why I just wanted to see where we were. So >> what's the government? Yeah, but basically the camp and conference folks are funding the vast majority of that.

45
00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:35.680
Correct. >> All of it. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. And Okay. I just wanted to make sure I kind of understood that as we started to talk about other things that I assume will involve rates

46
00:12:35.680 --> 00:12:52.320
and operations. And I just want one final question. The 29 plant, I believe you said it's closed down. Decommissioning activities taking place as we speak. Anything that was

47
00:12:52.320 --> 00:13:07.120
going into that plant is now being pumped to the main plant. Correct. >> Correct. Yes, sir. >> Have we closed down the Tamoka plant yet? >> No, sir. It's fully functioning right now.

48
00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:23.920
>> Okay. Is it the plan still to has has the piping done been done to be able to close it down or is that not in the queue right now? >> There's nothing even started. No break. >> Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Mayor. >> In the 29 plant for my benefit is which

49
00:13:23.920 --> 00:13:39.680
>> the south plant. >> Thank you. These terminology, right, we're all connecting up. So, the south plant. Okay. and and those are great questions to lead into um not just this workshop but where we need to go because there's a lot coming at the team. The

50
00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:55.920
good news is there's a lot of grants but we've got hookups and we've got infrastructure. We've got a lot of infrastructure with you know the old plant converting to the new but you still have older lift stations and things like that. And that's was a

51
00:13:55.920 --> 00:14:12.320
perfect lead in to Patrick on the asset management plan and inventory that he's completely recently completed. So over to you. >> Uh thank you, Mayor Charles. Um, Council Member Royce, a lot of these things that you talked about, um, you're going to see included in this asset management

52
00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:28.880
plan, both previous the 2024 original, the implementation report that we, uh, have done, presented, and then the, uh, AMP update that we have just created, and that we're going to ask you guys for consideration of adoption at a future council meeting. >> Yeah. And I read through this big stack

53
00:14:28.880 --> 00:14:45.680
of stuff and I got that. I just want to make sure I understood the bigger picture, but thank you, Madam President. So, a lot of the documents you guys have previously seen before. There is only one new item that you guys may may or may not have seen, and that's going to be the the AMP update for the 2026, the

54
00:14:45.680 --> 00:15:01.040
fiscal year 26 that's going to be required by the SRF and uh to be able to make you guys eligible for grant loan uh forgiveness and to be able to get the interest rate reduction as well. Uh so, that one you will have not seen. We included the original 2024 wastewater

55
00:15:01.040 --> 00:15:18.160
amp as backup documentation and I have also prepared a implementation report that was presented to Miss Charlotte on May 28th and uh I don't know if you guys were given a copy of that or not but I definitely wanted to go through that a little bit. What that was was we went

56
00:15:18.160 --> 00:15:35.360
through the original asset management plan that we did in 2024 that was adopted uh September 9th, 2024, resolution number 2024-27. And the implementation report that was completed just measured the progress that was made from that original time uh

57
00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:52.560
between now and the date of May 28th, 2026. >> Did you find >> Patrick? Could you resend that after the meeting? >> Yes, I will. to the chief and myself. >> I don't know that the implementation report Yeah. I don't know that it made it into this stack for you guys here. We

58
00:15:52.560 --> 00:16:09.680
have it pulled up behind you guys. I don't know if there's a way we can screen share it. >> It's in the packet. I just can't find the page number. >> The order that we were going to kind of go through it uh it got a little shuffled up. So, she's trying to find the page number

59
00:16:09.680 --> 00:16:24.480
for you guys. The original 2024 wastewater amp. I was going to try to go just touch base on that. Uh the drinking water amp got put in there instead. Uh to talk about your drinking water amp shortly. You guys have adopted that just

60
00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:40.800
over a year ago. So when we talk about amp updates and implementation reports, we're just now getting to the point where we're really going to want to start the consideration of going into the uh update process as that as well. We didn't do the implementation on the

61
00:16:40.800 --> 00:16:58.399
drinking water just to the fact that it was just into a year and it you know you guys are just now get getting into being able to accomplish the items that were previously listed. >> I can't find >> Okay. Um >> if you can just go up there I'm just give me a few minutes.

62
00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:15.360
>> Yep. Yep. So on your implementation report we were happy to note that you guys completed 12 of the 20 original items. So when we went through the first part that that we did was we went we went in and we sat down with all the staff and we talked to them and I took

63
00:17:15.360 --> 00:17:31.760
the original priority action list that was made in the 2024 um wastewater asset management plan and we were able to determine what has been completed and what the status of them certain items were and then so we were able to answer those. We went in did a

64
00:17:31.760 --> 00:17:48.080
bunch of field verifications and staff was able to give me a lot of good information. Uh some of the big highlights that you guys were able to do um you know you guys were able to get the resolution adopting the AMP. That was a great one.

65
00:17:48.080 --> 00:18:04.960
You guys have are previously had a level of service goals. Uh staff training has been good. um rev plan model which would be your rate study that was adopted in 2025. Uh that was on November 17th that you guys adopted that and have since

66
00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:21.039
implemented that. Um there was a little deviation from what we originally recommended in the rates. I don't want to get into the rates too too much, but you guys have done a pretty good job making good leaps forward to that. Um you know, in our AMP update, we're going to ask that we update that and that's

67
00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:36.000
something that Florida Rule Water can work with you. We have staff that that do nothing but the financial assistance, whether it be rate studies or grant and loan applications. Either which way, there's a lot of good stuff that we can help you with on the fi on the the finance side to support this asset

68
00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:52.160
management plan. Um, so going through on the implementation report, you guys were able to um we I think we noted 72 manholes that were previously listed in poor condition. 44 of them being as they were sealed shut being either paved over

69
00:18:52.160 --> 00:19:08.640
just had obstructions and things like that. Uh field staff was able to go through and knock out um almost all of them in one way or another with on paper records and we've updated diamond maps your guys' GIS software that that the all the staff uses out in the field and

70
00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:24.400
in the office side. They were able to update almost half of them already. The other half just need to be put in. So a lot of good uh implementation has been made. We were uh we were very happy to see that with the closure of the plants

71
00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:41.200
um the was it the south plant and then the uh the main plant that was uh knocked down and then the new one that was built. You guys were able to eliminate almost all of the poor assets that you guys had. Uh the Tamoka plant that that you you spoke about, Mr. Royce

72
00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:58.080
that one that had a lot of poor assets that were listed in originally done in 2029 or sorry 2019 and then 2024 during our assessments. Since that time there was zero poor rated assets there. The staff has done a good job uh rehabilitating a lot of the things

73
00:19:58.080 --> 00:20:13.520
there. They utilized some of the equipment uh taken from the decommission plant. Uh some of the blowers and some of them other motors and things like that. they were all kind of set aside that were good working uh items and taken up to replace some of the older stuff at the Tmoka plant. Um we do talk

74
00:20:13.520 --> 00:20:28.960
about some language about continuing the planning for uh you know taking that offline. We'd love to see it all streamlined into all into your new plant. I don't from what I've gathered your new plant is you know it's an advanced wastewater treatment plant and it's going to do a lot better treating

75
00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:45.360
wastewater than what that that older plant does. even though they have it in good working condition, it's just not going to be the same as what what you guys currently have now. That that's a very nice wastewater plant you have and love to see everything being treated over there. Um, so that that language is going to be in the AMP update and we'll

76
00:20:45.360 --> 00:21:10.320
get to that as soon as we we get done running through this part. So the few items that we seen that were not completed as part of the original asset management plan, they all pertained primarily to lift stations and some of the manholes. And those items

77
00:21:10.320 --> 00:21:26.640
are going to be more of the heavily cost items. And you know, I understand just like any other uh city or town that they would be fixed if there was a blank checkbook and the ability to go out and do that. And um so it wasn't from a lack of effort or wanting to, you know, staff

78
00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:42.880
understood and they knew exactly what was wrong with each station, you know, because they work on these things all the time and they would love to have them, but you know, they just understanding there are financial constraints. Um I do understand that some of the lift station repairs that we talk about are going to be included in

79
00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:59.360
that latest grant that you guys have gotten approved for. So some of those things will be taken care of. But those were the those were some of the only outstanding items that were really of any kind of major needed action. But like I said, those are some of the bigger capital items. They're going to take a little more planning, some engineering, some some some look at.

80
00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:15.919
It's not something that we can just go hire somebody just to come out and do without really taking a better look at see exactly what they need. Some of those can be very very costly in some instances. But other than that, you guys have done a great job. Uh I was I was very happy to see when we get down into the bottom

81
00:22:15.919 --> 00:22:40.559
of this implementation report, we have a chart uh here. Let me get down to it to give you the exact figures. So in my chart we have found that out of all the poor, very poor and failed assets that we have originally assessed

82
00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:57.360
both in the 2019 and the 2024 times when Florida Rule Water was out doing asset management plans for you guys. Uh out of all of those 92% of all of them assets have been uh repaired, replaced or at least taken to an average condition.

83
00:22:57.360 --> 00:23:13.120
Some of them have been taken offline, some have been repaired, some have been rehabilitated, accumulation of, but a 92% uh rating on of your asset replacement and rehabilitation is is amazing. And that's not something that we see in a lot of towns. And that speaks highly of your staff and what and what they were

84
00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:31.120
doing out there. They've done a good job. So, a part of the implementation, we do look at what you guys have accomplished, but then we wanted to take it a step further and we wanted to talk about what are we going to do next. And so, going

85
00:23:31.120 --> 00:23:46.960
into the AMP update side of things, we created a priority action list that we would hope to you guys to be able to utilize for your AMP update. So, that is also included inside of your uh implementation report. I'm sorry if you guys didn't didn't get a copy of this.

86
00:23:46.960 --> 00:24:03.360
>> We're printing them now. >> Okay. >> Yep. Yep. No worries. I understand. I knew there's going to be a lot of papers that uh the asset management plans, they they they get kind of long because of the inventories and things like that. Um so some of the items that we were

87
00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:19.520
going to look at for the AMP update, we know we talked about, you know, we want to continue inspection and rehabilitation of poor and very poor manholes and their conditions. you know, uh we found 57 manholes that still needed to be have some sort of uh things

88
00:24:19.520 --> 00:24:36.000
done to them, whether it be getting them sealed, unsealed, maybe they were buried, or might have been a car parked when we weren't able to assess. Um in those conditions when we can't lay eyes on them, we're going to call them poor until Brandon and the guys can go out there and and get uh an eye on it and

89
00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:52.320
say that it actually isn't. I would hate to say something, especially like a fire hydrant or a pump. I don't want to say something's average if I can't see my eyes on it and then have it break the next day and you know something happens. So we we we default to a poor condition. And so some of these when I say there's

90
00:24:52.320 --> 00:25:10.000
57 manholes that were poor and very poor you know out of those there was only originally notated there was only 28 manholes that had any deficiencies. All the rest of them were rated poor just because of accessibility issues. So that should definitely be taken note in. So,

91
00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:26.559
we talk about, you know, let's look at these other 57, figure out what what they're doing, and then maybe, you know, we could look at lining three manholes annually, starting with the very poor ratings. You know, we have ratings on all of your manholes, lift stations, electrical equipments. All this is inside of uh Diamond Maps, your mapping

92
00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:41.840
system. I'm not sure if you guys have ever had a chance to see your diamond maps and see what we've been able to do for you guys and your system staff has done a good job updating as well, but you guys have a very detailed inventory of everything that's in there with conditions and stall years and replacement costs of all the full

93
00:25:41.840 --> 00:25:57.120
details in there for you guys to look at. But, you know, we continue from lift station uh from manholes. We go into lift stations. We talk about, you know, rehabbing a few of those. There was six of them that needed rehabs and I believe there was three others that that we were recommending lining the wet wells just

94
00:25:57.120 --> 00:26:13.360
to make sure that you guys were able to have good good working uh lift stations. That's very important to prevent sanitary sewer spills. That's one thing you know you guys are very uh coastal areas as far as the lakes and things like that. A lot of waterways around you guys. I know waterways have already had

95
00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:28.960
all kinds of different problems from nitrates and allergies and things like that. So, you know, taking care of our lift stations is one of the best things we can do, you know, outside of infiltration and ma making sure that we're not leeching out anywhere else. But, you know, so uh we have other items

96
00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:44.559
such as smoke testing and uh updating our line condition assessments. Um we would love to see any of that. Florida rule water can help with smoke testing and some of them other items that can help on the um field side. So, we can help identify some of these problem areas and your engineering staff can do

97
00:26:44.559 --> 00:27:05.919
a lot as well. see some of the others. You guys have already in your capital improvement plan, you've identified needs for the SCADA systems. Um, with that, we um we also wanted to go into your generators as well to make sure that you have backup generators that are able to work.

98
00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:23.520
I know that uh speaking and working with Mr. Bobby over the years, you know, he had generators that could go everywhere and he had a pile of them and he was very good at deploying and he's very good at the emergency response. So, we just we want to make sure that the generators are always up and running and your SCADA system to where you guys can

99
00:27:23.520 --> 00:27:38.880
monitor and control and be able to view all your flows in real time. It's very important stuff and it's with the new age technology, it's getting a lot easier and a lot less cost effective to be able to do these things. So, it's a little easier to be able to do some of these things, but doing things like

100
00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:55.760
preventative maintenance programs and developing some of that stuff. Um, wastewater rate structures with Rev Plan. I know when we talked about the rates, waste water was in a way better position than drinking water. I think that only required a 5% annual increase, which I would always encourage that we

101
00:27:55.760 --> 00:28:13.120
do a minimum of 3% uh every year anyways, just for inflation and CPI. Unfortunately, nothing gets cheaper and the cost of doing business is always going up. So, you know, at least doing the three to 5% keeps everybody afloat and it keeps them big them big ass of

102
00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:30.480
doing 15 22% it keeps those way more at a minimum and a lot less, you know, to be able to do those kinds of things. So, by doing those three and fives every year, it just helps eliminate that need later on. Um, I know you guys are doing a lot of the septic to sewer expansions. Um, we

103
00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:45.919
included language about continuing the work with that. I know you've guys are hot and heavy into that. You have a lot of planning already done and I know you have some ideas of, you know, where you want to go with it. So, um, we definitely wanted to list all these items in here. Uh, we want to talk about

104
00:28:45.919 --> 00:29:02.640
taking the, uh, the old plant offline as we also spoke. And there's a lot of items that can be added and there's some items that have been put on here as I don't want to say a wish list, but as a plan, we want to have these things on there. If we're going to go to D for

105
00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:19.200
money, we're going to ask them to help fund these items. And they're going to say, "Hey, is this on your asset management plan?" And you're going to say, "Well, no." And they're going to say, "Well, why aren't you know, why isn't it not on there?" And then they're not willing to sometimes give the principal forgiveness or score the project as high. So including some of

106
00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:36.399
these items on here uh that that we have are we may not be able to do them all next year but if we have them in our sites in our in our eyes and we know what we're trying to aim for when we do go to D and ask for funding or we are looking to engineers to help us design some some projects and plans we're going

107
00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:52.159
to have a good idea of where to shoot for. So all of that was included in your implementation report and uh I said I apologize again. Um, so if you want to go to, I believe it's page 167 inside of your uh packet, that is where your AMP

108
00:29:52.159 --> 00:30:13.919
update starts. And inside of that, that is going to be a continuation on of the original asset management plan done in 2024 and then have all the implementations that that we have found. and it's going to include all of that and then give us a roadmap

109
00:30:13.919 --> 00:30:30.240
going forward. Um, we talk about a roadmap forward. I know you guys have some personnel issues. Um, you know, as you're going to be bringing on new people, I would love to see this asset management plan be handed to the new uh utility director, supervisor, whoever it may be. If this could be handed to him

110
00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:46.559
on day one and he say, "Hey, here's what we would love to accomplish." It's going to give him a great roadmap to where to go. Because you know when someone's going to come in if they if they if they're not promoted from within then that's going to be hard for them to have the background to know the system to know the ins and outs and have a

111
00:30:46.559 --> 00:31:02.000
detailed inventory have a plan have a plan of action. Granted he you know there may be some some strategical changes that happen which is fine. It's just a plan. You know it's not set in stone. This isn't this is a tool. It's not you know it's not the gospel. So, you know, there's plans change, but he

112
00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:17.440
would he or she would be in a way better position having this asset management plan handed to them and have a roadmap and know where some of the strengths and weaknesses of the system are and have a roadmap going forward instead of just coming in blind and just trying to figure it all out.

113
00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:34.640
um being a younger utility worker and as I progressed through my career, I have learned some of the lessons over and over again that other people have already learned and there's haven't been able to capture them as in diamond maps on somewhere or putting them into an asset management plan. So when people

114
00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:51.440
are learning the same lessons over and over, it's just costing money and time again. So when we can c cat categ, have all these things put in front of them, it's going to really help. So inside of the asset management plan, it's going to be a lot slimmer version of the 2024

115
00:31:51.440 --> 00:32:07.200
asset management plan that was originally adopted. Um if anybody on the council was not uh has not seen the original 2024 wastewater asset management plan, I highly encourage you to look to kind of see the full version and then we can compare it to the new updated one and you'll you'll notice

116
00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:24.159
it's quite a bit less. So, we don't have to go into everything. We want to talk about what the asset management plan is. You know, it's um basically just like it sounds. It's a plan to manage your assets, but uh most importantly, it's going to keep you up to date with D's rules and

117
00:32:24.159 --> 00:32:40.480
requirements for their SRF program. And that's one of the best things that uh we can do for you guys with the asset management. Um, so we have an updated inventory of your assets, uh, the valuations with the con, the condition, level of service, the current values, the remaining useful lives, those kinds

118
00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:56.960
of things. We want to get ahead of those before they things start breaking and tearing up. When we notice that a pump is 20 years old, you know, maybe we should focus on that, you know, instead of some of the other things. Um, water and sewer sometimes gets overlooked just because it's underground and until it

119
00:32:56.960 --> 00:33:12.320
doesn't work anymore. A lot of people don't don't always want to pay as much attention to some of the stuff and it's it's real easy to forget about this all the stuff in the ground because it's not in your everyday frontal. So, you know, having these um having all this information about what you have is a lot

120
00:33:12.320 --> 00:33:27.600
easier to keep it in your forefront. When you can visually see that something's starting to age out, it's a lot easier to start pre-planning and making your capital improvement plan and some of those things based around some of them older assets, some of them poor, very poor failed rated uh assets and

121
00:33:27.600 --> 00:33:48.480
then everybody can see them as well too. So that really helps having all that information to it. Um, so the priority action list that was created and it's on page six that is basically taken off of the implementation report. It is the new uh

122
00:33:48.480 --> 00:34:04.000
the is the new priority action list that we have found from what was remaining from the original asset management plan. the things that may may or may not have been completed or strategies and things that may have been shifted and then just included those and then added in some of

123
00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:20.240
the new ones. Those were some of the few things that I had went back over. Are your guys' page numbers lining up? Do you understand where I'm at on this? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. I got you. I just know I we have so many so 600 pages. So, I just wanted to make sure that you guys were

124
00:34:20.240 --> 00:34:54.720
being able to find what you needed if you wanted to follow along. So moving forward on the asset management plan um guidelines and some of the requirements from DP, we were able when we created the original asset management plan and also the update, we

125
00:34:54.720 --> 00:35:11.680
were able to f uh check off all the boxes on their on the SRF checklist that that that they have. Um, a lot of them is going to be um, uh, things like having the, uh, cost to operate the system, the the detailed inventory. There's a slew of other items that were

126
00:35:11.680 --> 00:35:27.839
all completed. Uh, your most recent project that you guys weren't able to have closed out. We were able to successfully get that uh, assist you guys with closing that out with the implementation report. And and then this AMP update will also be able to do that. Check off all the boxes just to keep you

127
00:35:27.839 --> 00:35:44.079
guys going. Um when we had talked about your uh drinking water plan, we would love to sit down with the staff and try to uh emulate what we have created here to do this with this drinking water. So when we get into drinking water projects, we're not going to be held up

128
00:35:44.079 --> 00:36:00.240
or have any more issues the way that you guys may have had with the uh wastewater. I knew that kind of got drug out a little bit longer than what you guys anticipated for. And uh and we weren't aware of some of those things our ourselves. just a couple lessons learned on our end even too.

129
00:36:00.240 --> 00:36:16.160
But you know, so the AMP update, we update the the system staff, some of the current needs and then some of the recommendations. Um we have uh see you guys have added two new lift stations since since then. You've added a bunch of force mains. Uh we have noticed that

130
00:36:16.160 --> 00:36:33.440
and then uh we have identified and laid out a possible path. We would love for you guys to sit down internally uh with with staff at engineering to see if maybe you know how you guys would want to go. But we had detailed out in page number

131
00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:55.520
17 of of this. Well, this is going to be >> year 17 182 in our packet. >> Okay. Okay. So, as long as as long as you're with me there. So, yeah, we detailed out the um uh the a 2027 through 2030 plan. And like I said, all this can be changed to whatever is best

132
00:36:55.520 --> 00:37:11.119
going to fit the system needs. We just wanted to set goalposts for you guys just to help get the ball rolling. Um you know, I said as as we always say with the asset management plan, it is not set in stone. It's a living breathing document. It's meant to change. uh strategies are going to

133
00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:26.079
change, priorities change, things are going to break, fires are going to come up uh in other areas where you know funds or priorities are are going to need to be spent in other areas. There's also times when things like ARPA money came around and we were able to uh

134
00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:41.760
identify and do all kinds of things that we had no idea were going to get funded. So there can be a lot of things that are going to change the strategies and how we go about them. Um so you know we have just outlined a a few ideas for you guys. you know, we would love for you guys, like I said, to take take the time

135
00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:57.040
and prioritize these and what you guys think's best. We just lined them up a little bit and then, you know, try to try to accomplish at least one of these a year if we could not do more and, you know, ne next thing we know in five or six years, you know, we've got a bulk of all of our lift stations all up and

136
00:37:57.040 --> 00:38:13.599
running and rehabbed and, you know, quite up to par. There was nothing falling down, degrading, spilling anything on the ground by any means. But, you know, before we get to that point, we we want to make sure that we're start planning now because in five, six years, we could have a position where something may not be

137
00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:29.040
structurally perfect. You know, there are some deteriorated lids on some of the older stuff. You know, these uh wastewater especially is very rough on all of the u uh assets there, whether it be the structural or mechanical or electrical. All of it degrades in the

138
00:38:29.040 --> 00:38:45.760
wastewater a lot more rapidly than the water side. So, you know, there's a little more planning sometimes that need needs to be taken to the wastewater side. >> Madam Mayor, can I ask a very quick question? >> Sure. [clears throat] Sure. >> So, on that list for me, explain in just 30 seconds what rehab of a lift station

139
00:38:45.760 --> 00:39:02.079
is versus lining a wet well and whether we're talking about five grand or 100 grand. >> Okay. So, a a rehab of a lift station, I would think more along the lines of I would want to replace uh it could be a combination accumulation of pumps,

140
00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:20.400
panels, the rails, and then uh some of the other associated items to go along with the lift station. Um that would be a major rehab on a lift station that could be quite costly. Um so, you know, the pumps and panels alone could cost you upwards $50,000 possibly. Um, you

141
00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:35.680
know, you're talking rails and pipes, you know, it the the prices are just going to vary dramatically. Um, you have some of your uh lift stations that you've have new panels put on, the lids are in good shape and they're not in bad condition. It's just that the the wet

142
00:39:35.680 --> 00:39:52.560
well, which is the original piece of concrete that was made in maybe the 1970s, that is still standing and has not been addressed in any sort of way. And that is what could use just the lining. So, the pumps have been replaced. the uh the rails are good, the piping is good inside of it. It just

143
00:39:52.560 --> 00:40:07.599
needs the structure coated to just to maintain uh the integrity. That is what the lining would do. And that is a and that is a lot cheaper than going through and replacing all of the whole entire U assets inside of the lift station. So that would be the difference.

144
00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:24.640
>> Okay. Yeah, that's what I presume, but I wanted to make sure. >> Yeah. Yes, sir. Yes. And I think you said earlier, all of our lift stations, if they don't have a dedicated generator, are outfitted where a portable generator can operate them. >> Yes, sir. Mr. Bobby was very adamant that he had enough generators to make

145
00:40:24.640 --> 00:40:40.960
things work, and I seen him in action uh during during one of the uh storms, and he he was very efficient with that. Yep. He had a slew of small generators that were able to do it. Yes, sir. So, uh, outside of the wet wells and the lift stations, we had a few manholes and

146
00:40:40.960 --> 00:40:57.839
like I said, there there wasn't many that had many many deficiencies. You know, we found seven of them that we rated very poor and you know where the had cracked bricks, mortar missing, hydrogen uh hydrogen sulfide corrosion, those kinds of things. uh those ones I

147
00:40:57.839 --> 00:41:13.200
would recommend if we are going to look at manhole linings and things like that. I would want to focus some of my attention there on those. Those are some of the higher probability of failures. Um 21 were in poor condition where they maybe just needed clean, they had heavy

148
00:41:13.200 --> 00:41:28.960
corrosion, a liner needed. Some of those could have, you know, could be easily fixed by staff without any kind of professional services that can just be done in house. As so I said a little more of a detailed thorough dive into what their current conditions are and seeing what the staff's ability is. You

149
00:41:28.960 --> 00:41:45.040
know, some of it might be just taking some mortar down and can be fixed relatively uh inexpensively, but this is the this is the purpose of us doing the assessments and getting the details so we can go and look at these. So, so when the staff is out and maybe it's a slower day and they need something to do, so

150
00:41:45.040 --> 00:42:00.560
hey, let's go check on, you know, these 20 poor manholes. Let's see what we can knock out this week. you know, there's 52 weeks in a year and if I got 20 21 poor manholes, I do one every two weeks I got them fixed. So, you know, it's it's not bad to look at those kinds of things. And, you know, there's there's

151
00:42:00.560 --> 00:42:16.880
always something to do out in the water and wastewater fields and, you know, on the utility side. So just having these numbers, having having a game plan like this, having this asset management plan is just a great tool for like I said, not even maybe the new utility administration coming in, but also the guys out in the field that need

152
00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:33.359
something, you know, just to kind of keep them going and when they, you know, when they have some downtime, this is something that they can do. Um, all the manholes that we did deviate with any kind of any condition below average, we have had the condition comment as far as where they're buried, unable to assess,

153
00:42:33.359 --> 00:42:50.720
what kind of the conditions were that that we had found with them, whether they were paved over. So, like I said, there wasn't a whole lot that needed any kind of major. There's only seven of them that I thought, you know, you might want to really maybe have someone come in and look at that maybe professional uh services.

154
00:42:50.720 --> 00:43:08.480
But I I and I do understand that, you know, with with this new grant money, some of these things as along as well with some of the list stations could be included in some of that. So, we go through all of those. Um, one thing that I have not noticed is um I haven't seen any assessments of the

155
00:43:08.480 --> 00:43:25.359
collection system. We talk in the AMP update possibly about you guys considering doing some sort of um uh assessments on those whether it be camera television having a company come out and try to identify some areas for some possible lining of sewer mains. There was a lot of gravity sewer lines

156
00:43:25.359 --> 00:43:41.440
and those are some of your primary areas to lead into inflow and infiltration. uh inflow and infiltration is one of your worst enemies with wastewater that you're essentially treating groundwater and you know you're treating rain water and it's just costing you a lot of uh time and money. So that's what we want

157
00:43:41.440 --> 00:43:58.319
to uh eliminate. So we can flu water can come out and smoke test for you guys for pretty much free of charge. Um as a bucket of liquid smoke is I don't think but about a hundred bucks and we have the machines and the manpower to come out and do that for you for free. and we can identify areas that maybe need some

158
00:43:58.319 --> 00:44:15.200
attention. Anywhere that the smoke appears, that's a sign that there uh if smoke comes out, water can get in. So, we use that as areas to go with. And that's something that we can do and keep a part of our asset management plan, maybe doing 15 20% a year and we budget, you know, 15$20,000 a year for

159
00:44:15.200 --> 00:44:30.560
replacements of those because with older uh deteriorating clay lines, those are things that we're going to want to think about until we start having cave-ins. you start noticing little dips in the roads here and there for when you don't know why. A lot of times it's those clay those clay lines and it's it's uh

160
00:44:30.560 --> 00:44:45.200
replacing sewer is not near as easy as replacing water mains because it's all gravity and a lot of it has to go certain ways. So it's a lot more expensive to replace. Um I know we talked a little bit about the rates. We talked about the capital

161
00:44:45.200 --> 00:45:02.240
improvement plan. Um there is on page 22 of mine um I have a outline of a capital improvement plan there is a couple numbers that I want you guys to really notice. There's wastewater asset management reserves and the water asset

162
00:45:02.240 --> 00:45:16.480
management reserves and those are halfway down. With those numbers, we those numbers came directly from our replacement cost, our conditions, and all the things that we had found out in the system. And we were able to figure

163
00:45:16.480 --> 00:45:32.319
out what a good number would be for you guys to replace the failing assets as they're starting to age out. So when we did your rate study and we asked for a certain percentage of money that was including to include these dollar amounts for those prospective

164
00:45:32.319 --> 00:45:49.040
departments to go ahead and start replacing some of this aging infrastructure. And so we the the the rate studies showed that all the numbers were going to work great and there wasn't too too high of increases. But with that, you know, by by 2031, we were having $225,000

165
00:45:49.040 --> 00:46:05.040
almost taken to the uh to the drinking water and 132,000 to the wastewater included as additional monies that they were going to have to replace uh older assets. And so, you know, when I'm looking at those numbers, you know, thinking that's that's going to take a

166
00:46:05.040 --> 00:46:20.319
lot of what I needed up in that lift station category or those seven very poor manholes, just one year alone, I could do that with that just that money that we had built into this on the capital improvement plan that we were able to uh identify. So, those are those are some great numbers. And so, when we

167
00:46:20.319 --> 00:46:40.079
asked for the rate increases for and we said, why do we need the rate increases? These were these were the numbers and the reasons behind it. And this right here will satisfy a lot of those issues that we found out there. So moving. So with that, it said in the

168
00:46:40.079 --> 00:46:57.200
wastewater side 16% of the items needed replaced. Um you're going to have a lot more a lot less of that when when some of these other items come come online and you get some other things done. But yeah, 257 was the end goal that we would like after the 10 years that we wanted to see you guys have set back aside. And

169
00:46:57.200 --> 00:47:12.640
that number will fluctuate as uh the rate studies get updated as well too. Um the rate study that was presented in here was taken completely off the 2025 uh rate study that was presented back in November 17th. Uh nothing has changed there. We have not updated any of those

170
00:47:12.640 --> 00:47:28.960
figures. So you guys are only in your first or second year into that. So we want to let that play out a little bit more before we go diving back into it to kind of see what it is. Um we talked about your current rates. Um, so we notice our wastewater revenue requirements.

171
00:47:28.960 --> 00:47:45.680
This dotted line that you see on page 27 on mine, there is a wastewater revenue requirements. That line right there for your 5% that that you do every year, that is going to keep you going. That is where you guys are going to be at and that's going to satisfy all of your capital

172
00:47:45.680 --> 00:48:01.760
expenditures, all your operating expenses, debt services, and other expenditures that were identified in that rate study. So, that is a great thing to see. And it also it also plays well moving down into the debt uh debt service coverage and your unrestricted reserves were were not as impacted as as

173
00:48:01.760 --> 00:48:19.359
as they could have been as well too. We were able to do that. Um you guys have had approximately uh at the end of the last fiscal year you guys had 115 days cash on hand which is great. We uh we say don't ever go below 90. We we optimize for 270 days cash on hand case

174
00:48:19.359 --> 00:48:36.559
of emergency. Um we we've had systems that have went through hurricanes and things like that and they weren't able to read meters for a long time and you know they needed to have that emergency cash on hand and it was very good that they did. Um so moving down further your unrestricted fund balance you know your

175
00:48:36.559 --> 00:48:53.599
minimum target as we go through we're building up to that and by 2034 we're almost at that uh 270day mark. We're very close to it. So, we're trending all in the right direction all off that just that simple 5% increase that that that we ask for for each year, which that's

176
00:48:53.599 --> 00:49:08.400
going to just cover your basic inflations and things like that. Um, we have an energy audit section in there that that can be covered by your um by Florida rule water as well. We you guys had a lot of projects going on so the it didn't make sense for some of

177
00:49:08.400 --> 00:49:23.359
that to happen right right as of yet. But as um as we move forward, you know, now that the weather plant is offline and uh we're maybe thinking about Tamoka, we could possibly do this energy audit now on at least the lift stations and the older plant to see what upgrades

178
00:49:23.359 --> 00:49:40.319
we could. Um energy audits have been found to minimal investment can have uh they can pay off the initial investments in less than a year or two. whether it be like a variable frequency drive or a updated motor. Sometimes the energy cost uh can be offset within a year or so of

179
00:49:40.319 --> 00:49:57.599
those very very neat some of the findings that we have with the energies and we're going to we can set all that up for you guys as well too free of charge just as part of the asset management plan. uh we move down to the conclusions where we just recap of what everything was and then uh from there we have a list of

180
00:49:57.599 --> 00:50:13.680
other grant and funding options for you guys and uh that is going to be on page 32 of that. I highly recommend you guys keeping that out. Um have everybody take a look at these. These are all places that we can go for possible grant and loan monies if need be. There's there's going to be a slew of others that always

181
00:50:13.680 --> 00:50:30.160
keep coming up. Um, following with that, we have a resolution. We'll ask that you guys adopt the updated asset management plan the same way that you did on the original, updated that by resolution at a one of your upcoming uh uh council

182
00:50:30.160 --> 00:50:45.920
meetings. Um, I don't know if you guys need to do two readings or not, but um, we have included the um, example resolution that uh, uh, you guys' um, attorney can draft up for you guys. We just try to want to keep it as similar to this as we possibly can. just, you

183
00:50:45.920 --> 00:51:00.960
know, just making sure that we're stating that it is an update from the original and make sure that we got dates and things like that going. But yeah, it's all it all reads through pretty good. And like I said, there's nothing binding in here. There's nothing set in stone. It's just a plan. It's a tool and it's uh it's going to be very effective

184
00:51:00.960 --> 00:51:18.079
when you guys get some new uh a new a utility administrator if you choose to go that route. Uh just below that, it's just all going to be utility master list and a lot of supplementary information. And that that's what kind of gives us the 700 pages that it seems a lot of that is that um I don't think you guys

185
00:51:18.079 --> 00:51:34.800
need to go back into the rate study if you don't want. We included a lot of this information in this packet as supporting documentation in case you guys had any questions on anything. Um I said that the rates and nothing like that is being presented or being asked to be raised at at this time by any means. We just wanted to reference what

186
00:51:34.800 --> 00:51:49.680
was originally presented, what you guys have currently been able to accomplish and then kind of highlight those those good accomplishments and then present this update for you guys moving forward and just ask that you know you guys consider adoption at your uh upcoming meeting.

187
00:51:49.680 --> 00:52:04.720
So with that, I'm happy to answer any questions that you guys may have on it. I know I kind of covered a lot of information. I didn't want to sit here and go word for word through it. It would be here all day. I know you guys got other other items on the list. So, uh, if you guys have any questions, I'm happy to answer anything.

188
00:52:04.720 --> 00:52:21.119
>> Yeah, let me, uh, let's just kind of go in order. So, first we'll take any questions from the council, then any questions from the loop, and then open to the audience. So, is there any questions, comments from the council? So I I think what you said was that we

189
00:52:21.119 --> 00:52:37.440
should a minimum of three, preferably 5% rate increase automatically every year just to kind of be keeping up and to help develop the reserve fund. Correct. >> Um inside of your uh the rate study that was adopted on 1117 um that was

190
00:52:37.440 --> 00:52:54.079
established already for the wastewater side. It was all >> we're doing that in >> the wastewater side. Then there's also the water side >> the drinking water side rate increases were were separate and those were different and those those were a little more fluctuating rates than what the

191
00:52:54.079 --> 00:53:10.559
wastewater was. >> What we found last year is we were way under reserved in the water side. So we had a increase of which it's like a three-year you know there was a sizable increase last year and then we'll have

192
00:53:10.559 --> 00:53:25.839
we'll be talking about during the budget then what this year's increase needs to be as we move towards adequate uh reserve funding for the water side but what I heard is 3% a year on the wastewater side you're recommending

193
00:53:25.839 --> 00:53:42.640
>> uh well 5% is what is what is uh has been adopted and that is what is on your schedule and But I would never recommend uh going below three just with anybody without having any kind of rate study done just as a general precautionary. >> But my my question to you, Madame Mayor

194
00:53:42.640 --> 00:53:59.440
and Rachel, is that 5% that's something that you all are building into the updated fee schedule for the next fiscal year. Correct. >> Right. >> It's it's in the uh MUN code, the progressive rate increases. >> Okay. And then I have one other question on when I was looking at stuff earlier

195
00:53:59.440 --> 00:54:14.880
on the asset management financial sustainability plan page six it talked about fire hydrants and there was 31 of them that were poor very poor. I mean I guess that really gets my attention as fire hydrants maybe more so than

196
00:54:14.880 --> 00:54:31.200
manholes. Maybe it shouldn't but >> understand >> apologize for my voice but no problem. Um, so is that something then that our staff almost has to have a plan of okay that we need to go lay eyes on these 31 fire hydrants and and remediate or

197
00:54:31.200 --> 00:54:48.880
mitigate that as soon as possible. >> So I don't have the drinking water up in front of me but um so what I have found in a lot of typical systems that um I you said seven hydrants >> said 31 hydrants >> 31 were in poor condition. >> Can very poor. ask Brandon a question

198
00:54:48.880 --> 00:55:03.280
because what we did last year we hired a company that and I think it was like in in earlier this year uh the proposal from um BERT was to hire this company it's so much and then they went and they

199
00:55:03.280 --> 00:55:18.880
inspected they fixed they painted etc. So my my question is >> um to the guys is is that complete or do we still have some remaining ones we need to do? We have we repaired uh with

200
00:55:18.880 --> 00:55:35.359
the contractor that we use. They gave us a list and we punched them out and uh we have two that we have to replace. One at Serena Well and then the other location it my mind's not working with but yeah. >> So this has already been mitigated. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. We we

201
00:55:35.359 --> 00:55:50.880
>> I want to make sure. >> Yeah. Well, you would just you would for a lot of reasons you would hate to have fire hydrant or valve failure and then have there be an emergency and that compounds the emergency.

202
00:55:50.880 --> 00:56:07.280
>> Um, as speaking on the fire hydrants, I would definitely urge you to look more at the very poor to failed number as to the poor. um kind of with the manholes and some of the other items, the poor rated fire hydrants, a lot of them could have been uh accessibility issues or

203
00:56:07.280 --> 00:56:23.359
they could have been buried too low to the ground. They might uh operationally have been fine. If you were to look through, you will see anything that was notated as poor, you would see why. And then it has a number next to it. So, we can go back and identify those to see kind of what. But no, I understand that

204
00:56:23.359 --> 00:56:40.640
that your aspect of what you're asking, but uh poor does not necessarily deviate does not work and I'm does not work is a way bigger issue and I know that's where that's where it comes to eventually if it's poor. But um you know that it is not uncommon if a system has 250

205
00:56:40.640 --> 00:56:57.119
hydrants to have a slew of them of of sorts be buried too low, a little bit older, maybe has a a cap that's seized up on a side that could be easily repaired or replaced. And I I do know that yes, that you guys did have a contractor come through and he has done a lot. Um we have not done the

206
00:56:57.119 --> 00:57:13.599
implementation report and the AMP update to uh rectify those numbers because I said it's just been a year, but uh and that has been and those numbers will have have not been updated since uh you guys had that company come out. >> So one other very quick question. So manholes that have been paved over,

207
00:57:13.599 --> 00:57:29.520
buried, >> does our staff then need to cut them out, uncover them? I mean or or do you I mean can you get by without the use of that manhole or do you need to make every manhole accessible >> at a certain point in time it could

208
00:57:29.520 --> 00:57:45.839
necessarily need to be accessed for cleaning and things like that or if you have a sewer backup you know you might need to access it. It it's not necessarily detrimental is highly recommended. A lot of the paved over ones came from the Tamoka Heights uh neighborhood inside of the phase 2

209
00:57:45.839 --> 00:58:01.040
section where they did a lot of new paving. Um, sometimes what we find is the paving contractors, they get paid to pave the ground. They don't get paid to go around manholes and do it really nicely. So, uh, this is something that us guys in in utility world fight a lot, whether it be manhole lids or valve

210
00:58:01.040 --> 00:58:16.319
boxes, things like that. I don't understand how they can just willingly just pave over something, but that whole not my job kind of aspect sometimes. I don't know why, but the paving companies, they do that so much and it irks me. There's instances where it's not a big deal, but then there's some,

211
00:58:16.319 --> 00:58:33.280
yes, I'm definitely would rather. Now, your staff has uh opened up every single one of them into Mocha that that we we asked about and they we have paper records. Miss Jennifer has got all the uh work orders for that and they just need to be updated into the diamond maps. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Not

212
00:58:33.280 --> 00:58:52.240
>> other questions, council. >> Just a comment. When I was going through this and looking at some of the financial numbers, it just just didn't seem to jive. And now I understand that you weren't updating the financials because we're not doing a rate study.

213
00:58:52.240 --> 00:59:08.960
>> Correct. >> So So a lot of my concerns went away. >> Okay. Anybody else on council out to Lupre? Any questions for Patrick or for Brandon or elsewhere?

214
00:59:08.960 --> 00:59:25.280
Okay, thank you. Out to the public, Miss Ventress, if you can state your name and address for the record, please. Pam Fentress, 12373 Lost Lake Drive, Lake Placid. Just for clarification purposes, last year when you did the

215
00:59:25.280 --> 00:59:40.319
budget and you approved it, didn't you do a 22% total increase in your water and sewer rates and you also approved the same time the next two years at 8%. So, I don't know if that helps when you're figuring out things. And I don't

216
00:59:40.319 --> 00:59:55.760
know what he just said about if you had done the rate increase that we suggested or recommended, but y'all have done I mean, just I'm asking for clarification. You've already done it for for three years or will have and you're going to revisit it. And then the only other

217
00:59:55.760 --> 01:00:12.880
thing is if that's correct and I'll uh the master utilities plan that the council approved earlier this year in January for 18,000 that contract and it's been sitting uh in the attorney's office. Is that void? I know we're talking about this but I thought that he

218
01:00:12.880 --> 01:00:29.520
the Florida Rule Association was going to pick up some things. >> No. So just correction, it's not sitting in the attorney's office. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh we're working through the company on they need an asset list and so um Brandon has been working um with

219
01:00:29.520 --> 01:00:46.240
that company up and the professor at the University of Florida. So that's that's moving on. Maybe not as fast as we wanted with other things, but that's moving on. It's not sitting in any attorney's office. >> I'm just going from past utility director's reports that say in attorney's office. So thank you.

220
01:00:46.240 --> 01:01:02.480
>> No. >> Other questions from the audience? Okay. I cannot thank you enough. This is very I did. She was asking if I'd Does the utility people have anything else?

221
01:01:02.480 --> 01:01:18.079
Yeah. Um staff, I mean, any any questions, Brandon, from your end? I know you're working closely with them, as is Rachel. Very informative. Uh very critical. uh this is supporting documentation for a lot of the grants

222
01:01:18.079 --> 01:01:36.559
that we're putting forward. you know, the other day we there's a FEMA grant that's out there that we can apply for and and the materials that you've been providing is is um the degree of the depth of the information is so critical not just for

223
01:01:36.559 --> 01:01:52.000
us here to manage our water and our and our uh wastewater infrastructure, but then also to get the monies that we need to in order to not just improve what we have, but and also

224
01:01:52.000 --> 01:02:09.920
increase so we can go after um more um homes to put on the the new advanced wastewater treatment plant. So, thank you so much. >> My pleasure. >> Okay. And Mr. Attorney, you have an assignment out of this, right? Is the resolution. So what we would need to do

225
01:02:09.920 --> 01:02:26.319
is and we can look at Eva the August meeting bringing forward the resolution to adopt this which is equally important in order to get the grants to show that it's been presented. Council has approved it. Okay. But I think he's drafted it up for

226
01:02:26.319 --> 01:02:42.480
you. So I would expect the fees to be less. >> Yeah. Got it. >> Thank you everybody. I appreciate your time. >> Thank you. I look forward when we can do the energy study, right? >> Yeah. Yep. We I'll get our energy assessment guy over and then uh we'll

227
01:02:42.480 --> 01:02:58.240
also move forward with the drinking water side as soon as we can get some time for that. So, >> and and you know, on the 57 manholes, I appreciate the idea, Brandon, of you know, staff doing one a week. Another way to look at it is we've got 52 staff members and five town council members.

228
01:02:58.240 --> 01:03:22.640
Maybe we assign each of us one in the next year. Just another thought. >> There you go. [laughter] Thank you. >> I don't think that's a good idea. >> It wasn't a motion. Um I think next up on the agenda is actually utility grants. Is that chief

229
01:03:22.640 --> 01:03:40.720
or you've got lead on that one? >> Brandon, >> there's no grants. uh talking with Rachel. Talking with Rachel, she said uh there there's no grants at this time. >> No new grants from what we already

230
01:03:40.720 --> 01:04:01.559
reported to council on what we've on Monday's meeting. >> On Monday on Monday's meeting at that was all do. All right. So, we'll we'll look at the uh the wastewater grant. I'm going to turn it over to Roger.

231
01:04:04.079 --> 01:04:20.160
Okay, this goes back to Brandon and Rachel came to me about a month and a half ago um saying there was a need for some improvements at the Serena water production facility in the south side of town and asking me if I knew of any good

232
01:04:20.160 --> 01:04:35.520
grants to go after. Um we work a lot with the state revolving fund which you already have have that's the campaign conference center already has a state revolving fund um grant for the water lines there. Um but that's that's in my opinion some of the best funding that's

233
01:04:35.520 --> 01:04:51.680
out there for on a percentage basis that that you could go after. Um the project that um Brandon was interested in doing was to um construct additional storage and high service pumping at the Serena water plant. And uh I went ahead and did

234
01:04:51.680 --> 01:05:08.799
a what's called a request for inclusion which is effectively the um grant loan application for state revolving fund um that's ready to go in if you all chose to submit that. Um the the uh funding hearing or the priority list meeting is

235
01:05:08.799 --> 01:05:24.480
going to be conducted on [clears throat] August 12th of next month. And uh what what you're specifically asking for is the the planning money. Um with every state revolving fund project, there's a planning phase, a design phase, and then a construction phase. And this would be

236
01:05:24.480 --> 01:05:40.960
the to um ask for um the the planning money to get the project started. And way SRF works once you get started with the planning, you they pretty much will you go move through the phases and you have a really good chance of being being approved for the next phase once you you

237
01:05:40.960 --> 01:05:59.280
know each phase is completed. So, >> so the reason why we were going after a grant and I I asked Roger to to help us look for this is uh I I just had a concern and a thought that uh since we

238
01:05:59.280 --> 01:06:15.520
got the SRF grant to run the water line out to the Tampa Conference Center, I went out there and did some homework and seen how much uh millions of gallons they use per year and if we're going to attach that to Serena Well, which is our system. It would be really nice to have

239
01:06:15.520 --> 01:06:33.039
fire protection. And so having a storage unit of a million gallons uh and three high service pumps and all uh readily available, it would have to also because we're uh we run off of elevation our towers uh to supply pressure in our

240
01:06:33.039 --> 01:06:49.599
community. And so it would also include uh like two altitude valves at Pennsylvania and then also at Magnolia. So when we fill those towers up, uh it would fill the ground storage tank up and then at night the ground storage

241
01:06:49.599 --> 01:07:07.599
tanks uh would shut off and the altitude valves would open and it would feed system pressure. And so right now we had the church fire just few months ago and uh Bobby had to physically come in to make sure that our pumps and our our

242
01:07:07.599 --> 01:07:24.559
wells were were running. And so it's just an added benefit for our town. And if we're able to get a grant to to do this, it would it would really benefit us as well. And so that's just to keep everybody in the loop, the reason why we're we're looking at it.

243
01:07:24.559 --> 01:07:40.799
>> So this came to my attention in the last couple days and I appreciate uh Brandon's skill and experience to bring forward a potential risk. Right. We're bringing on camp and conference center on an existing well that's going to give the

244
01:07:40.799 --> 01:07:58.400
how many hundred thousands of flow and then if we had an emergency >> what you know we had an emergency for fire protection and that's where he said well these underground storage containers he put his head together talked did I say that right

245
01:07:58.400 --> 01:08:13.280
>> yeah so so what is designed uh right now we're we use elevations for the the pressure what's great about this. We would have a uh VFD which is when it says 55 PSI it'll maintain that pressure

246
01:08:13.280 --> 01:08:30.719
and let's say campa conference water line or high sorry a fire breaks out they hook an engine to it they start pulling uh those pumps are designed to maintain that system pressure and feed water out. right now if they were to to

247
01:08:30.719 --> 01:08:47.600
pop off we would be drawing water from our town out to camping conference center and our wells will kick on um but there you know could cause some some issue with PSI >> so so they put their heads together and

248
01:08:47.600 --> 01:09:02.960
discovered that there's another grant that we can apply for how much money 10 million >> 11 >> yeah the the first phase is I'm showing That is h 100,000 for the planning of the overall project. It's yeah I think

249
01:09:02.960 --> 01:09:18.719
it was somewhere around what do we have almost 11 million >> $1 million. So this is the application stage that Roger has talked to DP and basically said as soon as you could get me an application signed by the mayor we

250
01:09:18.719 --> 01:09:35.279
will push this one through at least get you in this cycle right now. I felt it was important enough to bring forward to have that discussion and awareness, no approval because this is a workshop, but because it's an application, um the town attorney has agreed that the

251
01:09:35.279 --> 01:09:50.159
mayor does have the authority to sign the application to get this going and at a point in the future. Hopefully, we are approved. Then that agreement comes back. What this also allows is utility commission to start looking at this and

252
01:09:50.159 --> 01:10:05.360
other grants to try to prioritize a lot of these things. So that's where I felt is let's bring it forward. Let's inform this group. See if there's any concerns in any way and as we leave today I will be signing that application so that that

253
01:10:05.360 --> 01:10:21.120
can be submitted. What I've really been challenged what we're all challenged oursel is go out and find where we can get some funds. Now, in this case, the first question is, well, what's our matching? Well, let's wait till we get the agreement back to see what the matching is because

254
01:10:21.120 --> 01:10:36.480
it doesn't cost us anything to apply except for our time to get the right story in place with the facts that we can get approved. So, >> mayor, about that, the um the funding

255
01:10:36.480 --> 01:10:53.679
comes at a 50% clip for the planning and design. That's just per the state revolving fund rules. And then the construction portion is based on median household income of the town. Um it looks like based on what I'm calculating, you should be at like a 90%

256
01:10:53.679 --> 01:11:09.440
grant for the construction, which is the bigger part anyway, the construction dollars. Um one other thing real quick about the scope of the project. We also included the um Tamoka water plant. Um, Penoni actually has already designed new

257
01:11:09.440 --> 01:11:25.120
controls and SCADA for that plant, but there hasn't been any way to fund that yet. So, I went ahead and added that into the scope of this also. It's about a $200,000 amount that you'd be able to fund the those improvements. >> Okay. Appreciate that. So, any comments

258
01:11:25.120 --> 01:11:42.080
from the DIS on this, >> Mr. Attorney? >> Just so I'm clear, Madame Mayor. Um I believe that under the code these grants would essentially be managed or processed or basically overseen for recommendation to come from the utility

259
01:11:42.080 --> 01:11:58.560
commission. So are you assigning >> this particular grant so they can do this >> on the application >> once you sign the application all the grant information to ensure that we meet deadlines and everything that like signing that to the utility commission to go ahead and manage that process.

260
01:11:58.560 --> 01:12:16.480
>> Yes. So the newly appointed comm utilities commission um is those are some of the things we want to get back to what the code says. You know the Tilly commission will be looking at the grants and making the priorities and working with staff on um the spending

261
01:12:16.480 --> 01:12:31.920
and the areas and the priorities and bringing that forward to council. That would be the recommendation to council. That then would be the approval body. Okay. Any other comments? Any comments from the utility commission on

262
01:12:31.920 --> 01:12:47.520
this specific item? Sir, >> what I think I heard was that's a 50% grant. 50% we pay for the >> planning phase, >> the planning and the design. >> So that would be $100,000 out of our budget.

263
01:12:47.520 --> 01:13:04.159
>> Thou h 100,000 is the planning and the design would be however much the scope is. probably a half a million or something like that would be the design >> and that's at 50%. >> That's at 50%. >> So you're committing I mean my only

264
01:13:04.159 --> 01:13:21.360
question is is this the highest priority issue in our water system? If it is a 90% grant's a wonderful thing but you're spending a lot of money right now not in that's not been excuse me when the when we agree you're right. Go ahead. It's

265
01:13:21.360 --> 01:13:36.320
just the application. >> I I get that. But you're obligating 100 grand when we get the application and sounds like about a million out of our budget because it's only a 90% grant,

266
01:13:36.320 --> 01:13:51.840
>> but we don't know how much we're going to get. >> Well, I'm I'm not saying >> and and the the strategy thinking is let's apply for grants and let's see what we get back get rejected and then we make those decisions. >> Totally agree. versus the nervousness of well don't apply for this one because we

267
01:13:51.840 --> 01:14:07.280
may not get it and this one's more important and then the risk is we don't get that one we get neither of them. >> I'm not saying don't apply. I'm just saying keep in mind we need to make sure this is the most critical because if we do get it we've just spent a bunch a

268
01:14:07.280 --> 01:14:23.120
bucket full of money. >> Great. Thank you. Any other comments? Another thing quickly, the the scope that I came up with, the 10 million 11 million scope is that's actually for two high two ground storage tanks and pretty

269
01:14:23.120 --> 01:14:37.360
much the the most that you would do. There'd be a way to scale this back if you wanted to do only one tank and, you know, less things in the end. So, there'd be a way to do that. >> Good information. Thank you.

270
01:14:37.360 --> 01:14:56.080
Okay, moving on to the next um item is regional utility matters. There's two matters for today's uh workshop is um first is the Church of the Nazarene sewer connection request uh for direction. And what's exciting is

271
01:14:56.080 --> 01:15:12.719
now that the word's getting out, this plant's coming online, we literally having people coming forward saying, "Here's my address. When can you hook me up?" So, but we don't want to do, you know, hit and miss one houses at one house at a time and that, but this is a

272
01:15:12.719 --> 01:15:27.520
business location. So, Brandon, am I turning this over to you to Yes. brief us on? >> All right. the uh the pastor at the Nazarene church uh got a hold of me and they're they're doing an addition fellowship hall on their building. And

273
01:15:27.520 --> 01:15:44.560
so um he he approached me and in regards to uh weighing his options on connecting to our sewer and um our sewer main or doing his drain field. His drain field was upwards in4 to $60,000

274
01:15:44.560 --> 01:16:02.000
for that that um that job. And so we took the time to look at our closest connection for sewer and it's directly right behind the the dental office in between the school and the dental office. We have a gravity line and we also have a a little force man. I guess

275
01:16:02.000 --> 01:16:18.960
the nursery has a grinder station there that's attached to that as well. So there there's the picture. Thank you. And uh what we're going to do is we're going to go what what was asked if we could do a directional bore 2 in SDR30

276
01:16:18.960 --> 01:16:35.520
or SDR uh at nine. Thank you. Um and they're going to do a 2,000 ft directional bore from behind the clinic all the way to the Nazarene church. And uh then they're going to it most look most likely looks

277
01:16:35.520 --> 01:16:52.239
like it's going to be a two duplex uh grinder system that they want to put in. The the directional bore is uh 18,500. The uh at the time the grinder station was a single uh grinder station which is

278
01:16:52.239 --> 01:17:08.640
meant for residential use. Since this is commercial, not residential, they're looking at a duplex which is a little bit more expensive. So just times the 3500. So about seven grand, eight grand for that. They want to pay for all of

279
01:17:08.640 --> 01:17:26.800
it. They want to pay for the uh sewer directional bore for the 2 in and also they want to pay for the the pump and everything to to completely tie into our system. And we come to y'all just to keep y'all informed to and get any kind

280
01:17:26.800 --> 01:17:44.480
of feedback. Do you see any reason why we couldn't do this? Um, it's it it's pretty cut and dry. Uh, my concern, I know the pump will do it. I know the directional board, we have KDL, which is actually Dave from KDL. He was actually

281
01:17:44.480 --> 01:18:00.320
here. They're going to be doing the directional bore and doing the actual connection for the the u the pump and all. Um my only concern was asbuilts. Um just trying to figure that part out and

282
01:18:00.320 --> 01:18:18.560
uh engineering. Um we do do we need to go and get this engineered for a 2 in uh in our rideway? And so uh with that they decided that they they're waiting on us to to find uh the final go ahead on what

283
01:18:18.560 --> 01:18:36.640
they're going to do. So, um, I turn it over to you if you have any questions or any concerns. Um, I'm available. [clears throat] >> I have a question just for education. So in a situation like this, when [clears throat] it leaves whatever's

284
01:18:36.640 --> 01:18:53.120
hooked up to Sunshine Dentistry and they build it, is it then turned over to the town and does it does that infrastructure belong to the town and the town responsible for its long-term maintenance?

285
01:18:53.120 --> 01:19:09.440
>> Correct. My my thought is uh with the help of KDL if they were to do this job, our town staff would be there at the connection at the U ground because we have a uh gravity line from the dental to the road

286
01:19:09.440 --> 01:19:26.080
going towards our lift station and so that connection will be involved in. Um I hope it was that answering your question or oh no no I'm sorry. [clears throat] I'm sorry. Um, they did and I I'll turn it over to Mike here in

287
01:19:26.080 --> 01:19:41.760
a second, but they said it would be turned over to the town. They would pay for it. The town would own it, but it's a pioneer agreement. And I'm going to turn that over to to >> Yeah. I mean, I just don't see I don't see where a potential future Pine I mean, it seems like the opportunity for

288
01:19:41.760 --> 01:19:57.360
an additional pioneer is limited on that limited of a run to that limited of a two-ish line. There's only one other person and that's the funeral home that could tie into it. >> Yeah. >> And Ibanz is already tied in.

289
01:19:57.360 --> 01:20:13.040
>> Correct. According to >> So this is showing going all the way to Sunshine Family Dentistry, but just west of that is Ibanz. So would we tie into the Ibanis line? >> We haven't went out and like GPRed it and dug it up and see what it is. I

290
01:20:13.040 --> 01:20:29.360
would like to go all the way back to the uh gravity line connection. >> Gotcha. and that that way it's one connection from the the church all the way down and not tie into the the existing whatever. I would hope we just don't

291
01:20:29.360 --> 01:20:43.679
make it too complic I understand if you're building some big line a mile or a half a mile and there's potential other users but I would hate I just don't want to get too complicated worrying about a pioneering agreement

292
01:20:43.679 --> 01:21:01.360
for one potential business you know and that was actually inquired by the Nazarene church the pastors we had a telephone conference and really um Brandon and I brought this item this joint workshop because it seemed to work and really get some direction from the

293
01:21:01.360 --> 01:21:16.320
utility commission as the experts in these issues because frankly I the utility commission and Brandon probably knows more about this than I do and what we need to address. I laid out some issues. Um Mr. Harris being appointed to utility

294
01:21:16.320 --> 01:21:32.800
commission is probably very familiar with these issues. I am concerned that the engineering does need to be done. I think we would take over the product. It needs to meet those specs. So, so we're not buying something that's um [clears throat] wouldn't meet a responsible responsible bidder. Um we

295
01:21:32.800 --> 01:21:49.199
need warranties. We need to be in privy with the contractor that did the work in case there was something bad. So all of these things and so I think the direction unless I'm open ideas so we can get this project moving and not hold up the church. Their big question, Brandon, is can we do it for less money?

296
01:21:49.199 --> 01:22:04.000
even if it's a little bit more, they don't need to worry about the future of any type of commercial or activity of or kitchens and things of that nature. And they're willing to move forward. We're under a tight timeline and and whomever with utility commission can work with

297
01:22:04.000 --> 01:22:20.320
the utility department to get this project moving. That's kind of where we are looking for direction. Just didn't want to go out on our own. There are some issues of fees possibly. Um there is discussion of of a fee to connect to possibly a waiver or reduce fee. We

298
01:22:20.320 --> 01:22:35.360
don't have that authority to make that decision. Uh all of these things and we may have something very similar already that the town has done that I'm unaware of. So it's just have a discussion during this joint workshop so the utility department can move forward or

299
01:22:35.360 --> 01:22:52.080
not >> and they would pay for it. That's what they're saying in lie of putting in a septic field. We'd rather hook up on sewer. >> Correct. and they need to do some design elements on their project as well um to avoid that so they'll have more green space and possibly development available

300
01:22:52.080 --> 01:23:11.400
on their property. So that's what we're looking for is a discussion to get direction um to move forward and then we can go from there. >> Please >> I can >> Well, no. Now we can't. >> Is it on?

301
01:23:12.239 --> 01:23:46.080
>> No. Thank you. Um, I've got a question about it's downhill from the church to the manhole. >> Why Why isn't it gravity? Why you have a pump? >> Or why does he have a pump? Want a pump? Wouldn't he just put a manhole and gravity feed down?

302
01:23:46.080 --> 01:24:01.199
>> Well, the the nursery has used the whole bit of their property all the all the way up to almost literally the school fence line. >> What how long 600 feet did you say?

303
01:24:01.199 --> 01:24:18.960
>> Uh it's about 2,000 is what we 2,000 foot >> and so like a directional board would just shoot it. >> Okay. >> And and just >> yeah that's probably too far >> be very simple. There's nothing hard about this job. I'll be honest. I've me person I've done countless like this and

304
01:24:18.960 --> 01:24:36.320
it's an easy job but we just have to bring it before >> right y'all. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yes. And as for the uh $3,200 impact fee just to to wave that's what they were asking if we we front the $18,500 we

305
01:24:36.320 --> 01:24:52.000
buy. So pretty much they're paying for everything. They say like well do we have to pay the 3200 if we're [clears throat] supplying the line? and and so that's something that y'all have to decide. >> Do you need a Mr. Chairman? Are you a

306
01:24:52.000 --> 01:25:07.280
chairman yet or >> We can't make motions. This is workshop. We're just identifying issues. >> One issue I see is I'd sure like to have an easement to >> Can you get closer, please? >> I'd like to have an easement to maintain the line you're talking about. I'm not

307
01:25:07.280 --> 01:25:23.840
smart enough to know whether it's gravity versus low pressure. I understand if that hill is too steep, we're going to get into some technical terms now that it may leave the turds in the line and the water runs off and that begins to not do good things is probably

308
01:25:23.840 --> 01:25:39.840
why somebody's recommending a low pressure to make sure they flush all the way down out of that. That one's beyond me, but certainly it's a wonderful idea and I'm going to support waiver of the that fee system development and get on

309
01:25:39.840 --> 01:25:57.360
with it. Need an easement. >> So I have a question. >> It's in our our rightway to in the back from my understanding. >> I couldn't see a road there. Brandon was the reason I said e. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> Is there a right of way there? >> No. uh from what I've been told in the

310
01:25:57.360 --> 01:26:12.960
back, but we actually would have to figure out what it would be. >> Okay. Somebody's got to look at the plat and see whether there's a road. If there is, then we ain't got a problem. If there's not, it >> Oh, no. There's no road. Yeah. >> Planned road, not one you drive on.

311
01:26:12.960 --> 01:26:28.239
>> Right. [clears throat] >> In general, my understanding is system development charges for wastewater have two components. One is the collection system and one is the plant itself. I mean both of those go into building the system development charge. Correct.

312
01:26:28.239 --> 01:26:43.040
And so while they in effect are kind of building their own part of the collection system, they certainly aren't building the very expensive $40 million plant. And so I would suggest if we're going to wave anything, we'd only wave

313
01:26:43.040 --> 01:26:59.880
whatever portion was assigned to the collection system and not that portion of the system development charge that was you know factor of the um wastewater treatment facility itself.

314
01:27:00.719 --> 01:27:17.360
>> Okay? >> Because otherwise we are going to start down this road of everybody that puts in a little bit of something wanting to we are going to save them tens of thousands of dollars probably both upfront and over the course of this thing. So, we

315
01:27:17.360 --> 01:27:34.000
need to remember we're we're in the business to benefit our utility customers, >> those of us that have already paid for this. >> And and then Brandon, can you clarify? Is there no easement back there?

316
01:27:34.000 --> 01:27:50.159
>> I'm sorry, he's >> okay. >> Brandon, can you clarify? Is there no easement? So, you said something about Adanas filled up the whole back. They took over the easement. There is no utility easement on the back side of this property.

317
01:27:50.159 --> 01:28:06.960
>> Uh we we can't get through it. And I I walked the the job all the way to there and it it it was blocked. Yeah. So >> blocked with what? >> Um a shed if I'm not mistaken. >> Okay. >> And all matter of fact, you probably can

318
01:28:06.960 --> 01:28:22.480
see the white thing where the red line is and that's that's where I stopped. >> Okay. And so that's why we suggested just boring underneath all of it. And >> okay, any other questions? >> Can we just bore other under other

319
01:28:22.480 --> 01:28:38.719
people's property like that? >> I mean, I'm serious. Can we? >> No. >> No. [laughter] And then you need to maintain it. Yeah. This is why we needed direction um in procedurally

320
01:28:38.719 --> 01:28:54.000
how we handle this so the utility department can move forward. I would like to see that we are privy of contract. I know KDL's been mentioned but although these dollars are being privately funded and they perceive it as

321
01:28:54.000 --> 01:29:09.600
their line, it's really the public's line. It'll be the town's line and I don't know about the bidding criteria there. KDL's here. They're doing work in the area. I get that. So, it may be something of a a sole source, but um these are all technicalities that we

322
01:29:09.600 --> 01:29:24.480
need to address. We need a policy decision, the fee issue, and then how can we get this done and a timeline to get this done because we certainly don't want to hear the church saying, "Well, we really wanted to do this, but the town held us up." So, that's kind of what we're

323
01:29:24.480 --> 01:29:40.719
looking for. Well, if I can just interject, I I it seems to me that when we approved the addition onto this church, we said something about that when the sewer plant became available and when sewer hookup became available that they were going to be required to

324
01:29:40.719 --> 01:29:56.639
hook up, >> right? But that was where the plan is to bring it in the front. >> Yeah. There's no sewer connection in front of y the church >> and and right now we don't have a a timing plan of when it will come through the front. >> Okay.

325
01:29:56.639 --> 01:30:14.000
>> So that's why they're saying okay is there any option and this is an option that Brandon came up with. I think it's a it's a it's a good um it's a good approach for them getting us off of their septic field that they don't have to build and

326
01:30:14.000 --> 01:30:29.360
paying for it. So, but there's some complexities here. So, it's not quite as easy as if it was in the front. Yes. Do it. >> Madame Mayor, I know that these two governmental entities don't usually work cooperatively, but has there been a conversation with the school board of

327
01:30:29.360 --> 01:30:49.199
Highlands County about moving this line over 10 or 15 feet or whatever to be on publicly owned property and then have an easement on schoolboard property? I think the answer is no. There's not been a conversation, but it's also where

328
01:30:49.199 --> 01:31:04.560
the school board's line is because that was I think some of the initial is the the school board goes in a southernly way and then over to Green Dragon, I believe. Right Brian? >> So, from my understanding that the

329
01:31:04.560 --> 01:31:21.040
gravity system at the school, it it exits like the park goes out into the gravity system. So this is on the the furthest point. It would be like north >> the very end of that that gravity line was at the dentist office. >> I guess what I was talking about since

330
01:31:21.040 --> 01:31:38.080
the school board owns the property immediately south of where this red line is. Is there any conver any thought to just constructing the line under the school board's property with their permission? >> I I haven't no sir. But honestly, I can

331
01:31:38.080 --> 01:31:53.840
when I stood on top, actually Dave and I when we stood on top, I said, "Wouldn't it be easy to tie into that cleanout right there?" But no, we have not approached the school. >> The last time, if I may. >> Yep. >> The last time we dealt with the school

332
01:31:53.840 --> 01:32:09.280
board, and my dear friend Shannon Nash is their attorney, used to be in our office, very complicated. I mean, very helpful. So was the school board in moving back their fence so we construct could construct our lift station. But

333
01:32:09.280 --> 01:32:24.159
she explained to me while the school board and the school superintendent wanted to be very cooperative, state law requires if you take down the school's perimeter fence, they have to be standing there and watch it go down. The new one come up and there are a lot of

334
01:32:24.159 --> 01:32:40.480
security measures you get into. I would question even though it's underground, I I would prefer to see our own easement if there's not already an alleyway. If if Brandon's right and there's an alleyway there, we're golden. >> Oh, okay. Yeah,

335
01:32:40.480 --> 01:32:56.080
>> we're golden. If there's not an alleyway, it's a matter of talking Ibanz and Dr. Oxer and the church into 20 foot utility easement along their back. Often times those are in plats. The mayor is right. Well, somebody just got to go

336
01:32:56.080 --> 01:33:11.280
look. It's easy question. >> A and you're right. We don't want to slow them down. This is a home run. >> Yeah. >> Uh just a quick search. I just looked it up on the property appraiser website. There is no alleyway indicated at all in that area.

337
01:33:11.280 --> 01:33:34.639
>> Killjoy. >> Okay. Do you have the direction you need, Brandon? >> Say yes. We'll figure it out. >> Yeah, that'll work. Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, so the last item on the agenda,

338
01:33:34.639 --> 01:33:50.480
but before I go there, Mr. Freeman just made a comment, who's our chairman? So at Monday's meeting for the utility commission, it was decided if you could come up with who the chairman and the

339
01:33:50.480 --> 01:34:06.560
vice chairman would be and then the town council would, you know, make the um the approvals. Are you in a position to do that recommendation today to each other so that we can bring it to Monday's meeting or do we wait

340
01:34:06.560 --> 01:34:30.000
until a month from now? Okay. So, if we can put that on the future agenda for the uh utilities commission at the next meeting to uh come up with the recommendation to the town council at the August, I think it's 11th meeting for the chairman and the

341
01:34:30.000 --> 01:34:46.800
vice chairman of that committee. Okay. Next item and the last item on the agenda and we have 19 minutes till closing to get through this one is proposed revisions to chapter 135 wastewater code regulation

342
01:34:46.800 --> 01:35:02.000
of non-domemestic discharges and pre-treatment standards. And again this is not for a motion but for a discussion item and I think our town attorney has lead on this. >> Okay. >> No.

343
01:35:02.000 --> 01:35:18.400
>> Yeah, I'll take it. the um the agenda item. >> Chief, >> no, I'll take it. The the agenda item um has been vetted. It's before council and before the utility commission. Essentially, what we're asking here is that the

344
01:35:18.400 --> 01:35:34.719
utility commission go ahead and re-engage um a revision to chapter 135 of the wastewater code regulations of the non-domemestic discharges and pre treatment standards. That's essentially it. Um to possibly have some

345
01:35:34.719 --> 01:35:50.080
discussions. Mr. Harris when he was town attorney I believe with the engineers Roger as well was probably involved in drafting the ordinance draft that you see here. I don't believe it's been

346
01:35:50.080 --> 01:36:05.920
touched since about January of 2026, but it does need to come back to council at some point. hopefully by August, September um for a final adoption with the recommendation from the utility commission. That's basically what we're looking to get everybody on the same

347
01:36:05.920 --> 01:36:26.320
page to get this uh moving again. So, this is more work for the utility commission. So, any comments right now on this administratively uh what the plan is? Another item for

348
01:36:26.320 --> 01:36:45.040
your August meeting would be to look this over and bring any recommendations to the August 11th town council meeting. And I've got a nod from the four members sitting there and I've got a comment

349
01:36:45.040 --> 01:37:01.760
coming from one. >> Sir. >> Yeah. To say that Roger has been involved with this might be an overstatement. Um, I don't know since I left Roger's involvement. To my knowledge, I asked Roger, "Is this

350
01:37:01.760 --> 01:37:18.960
a domestic plant and what's our ability to treat um other than domestic sewage?" And got a one-page very helpful email from Roger, which I attempted to incorporate into that ordinance. There are going to be additional issues like

351
01:37:18.960 --> 01:37:37.199
what is our minimum requirement for restaurants? Is it just a grease trap uh cleanout ordinance schedule? Um what are the the problematic one is car washes because you never know what's going into a car car wash. But I would think that

352
01:37:37.199 --> 01:37:52.320
this ordinance should be vetted by Roger. He designed the plant. uh he knows us and um in addition to our comments I I think we should engage Roger. So I think it you should agenda

353
01:37:52.320 --> 01:38:11.520
if we can get him to give us a and you may have already done that. I don't know. Well, I would suggest that you put on the next agenda, either ours or yours or or yes, um to engage Roger to uh help

354
01:38:11.520 --> 01:38:28.080
with drafting this proposed ordinance that will regulate this uh new plant going forward. Um it needs not just legal but engineering. Um maybe he can come up with a quote uh to go in your next agenda package. and maybe some of

355
01:38:28.080 --> 01:38:46.239
our colleagues could nod their heads yes or no or whatever you think about who's involved. >> So my comment would be that's fine to come to the utility commission, right? Because what the town council is going to be looking for is what's the

356
01:38:46.239 --> 01:39:02.000
utilities commission's recommendation on the the ordinance revisions. >> Would love to have that. >> Did I just throw that back to you where you tried to throw it to us? >> No. No, no, no. I'm trying to get money out of it [laughter] so we can engage him. So we can engage Roger to bring a

357
01:39:02.000 --> 01:39:17.360
report that you would see, we would see, not a report, but his red line of the and his suggestions for it. But we're going to need some money. >> How much money are you asking for? >> That's what I was going to ask him to tell us. Give us a quote so you can approve it at the next meeting. I was

358
01:39:17.360 --> 01:39:32.159
less than clear. Apologies. >> Okay. So I again I don't think we have enough information in this workshop. If that's the recommendation for the utility commission that you feel that

359
01:39:32.159 --> 01:39:48.880
there's some broader information and experts that are going to need to weigh into this and there's going to be a cost to that. That's something that we're going to need to know before we re approve that. It's logical. I'm not saying it isn't. I mean, I'm I'm not an expert either, which is why I personally

360
01:39:48.880 --> 01:40:03.040
welcome all of you and your background and your experience. And thank you for serving on this committee. Whether you realized it or not, after hearing Patrick's presentation, we've got all got a lot of work in front of

361
01:40:03.040 --> 01:40:23.119
us. And but what's just wonderful is we're all committed to accept that challenge and to work effectively together. So, I mean, go ahead. >> If I may, would it be appropriate for

362
01:40:23.119 --> 01:40:39.040
the utility commission to work through and get a scope of work what they need in order to make a recommendation and they could get those dollars from Roger. I could see Roger um fitting a sole source because he engineered the plant, built the plant, knows the plant, knows

363
01:40:39.040 --> 01:40:54.480
the town. So, I don't think we need to worry about procurement issues, but that that's not a free check for Roger's firm as well. Um, I think Kimley Horn may have had some work in this as well. So, the utility commission may want to secure any documents that Kimley Horn

364
01:40:54.480 --> 01:41:09.760
has done. So, we're not repeating some work and and see what work has been done. But I I think what I'm hearing from council is the policy directions that they want to re-engage their LPA, their utility commission, and these working boards. And luckily we have so

365
01:41:09.760 --> 01:41:25.440
many volunteers that want to do it. And this way when matters come back to council, they're fully vetted and and and the hard work and the lifting and the discussion has been done in in a more sensible arena. A lot of information. That's what I'm hearing. So

366
01:41:25.440 --> 01:41:41.199
that's what I would recommend is that they come back with a recommendation. >> Agree. because the those commissions are experts in the field and and that's what we really respect your experience and your expertise and your ideas. So yeah, I'm fine with that and I was going to

367
01:41:41.199 --> 01:41:57.639
throw Brandon in there too on uh but it makes sense. I mean it makes absolutely sense, right? We've got experts who've designed the system and to try to get their input on ordinances that we need to put in place to protect the system.

368
01:42:00.239 --> 01:42:17.760
Is there is this time sensitive of when we need to get this revised ordinance adopted? >> No, we I mean we don't need to keep putting things off, but we don't need to let outside influences dictate good work. Um, you know, it would be nice to have something idea in August if we can

369
01:42:17.760 --> 01:42:33.199
have a price and come before the council to approve some funds. Where those monies come from, don't know. Um but September, October, um the one project Mr. Harris mentioned is a car wash in town and that that those projects are concerned. We have a couple restaurants

370
01:42:33.199 --> 01:42:50.639
>> looking in the area as well, but that um I believe the car wash said an opening of March. So we have until the spring. I thought they would be open before then. So they have stated March. So, we have a lot more time to get a good ordinance and and all these fees and and things of

371
01:42:50.639 --> 01:43:07.119
that nature because what we're seeing is we put safety measures in designs and that's wonderful. But if nobody is checking compliance and inspecting those and ensuring that that's done properly and that's our burden, the town's burden, um there needs to be fees or

372
01:43:07.119 --> 01:43:23.199
some type of costs associated with that so the folks that are using the system can pay that. That's just some thoughts when the questions I get and imagine utility commission and the experts on that commission can come up with some recommendations.

373
01:43:23.199 --> 01:43:40.400
>> If I may closer >> in the in the age-old statement of let's not let perfect be the enemy of good. We may start with an ordinance that puts most of the outline in place and then refine a couple of points like car

374
01:43:40.400 --> 01:43:58.159
washes or other nicities later after we get Roger's input. So if in other words, yes, utility commission I think can get on with it and we may well be able to bring back something that's of substance and it can

375
01:43:58.159 --> 01:44:17.199
be amended three months later to include any other things that we didn't have information on step one. >> Okay. Any more comments from Adas? Any more comments on this approach with

376
01:44:17.199 --> 01:44:34.000
the utility commission out to the audience? No, >> I was going to say that um grease traps are an important thing. I don't know if we have that in there already, but uh >> we may, >> but that's one of the for restaurants. >> What was that? I mean, Gary, it broke

377
01:44:34.000 --> 01:44:50.880
up. >> Yeah, I don't. Grease straps are an issue. >> Grease straps. >> Yeah, grease straps in restaurants. You got to make sure that they have good grease straps. Okay. >> Then those are important items, right? Exactly. Why?

378
01:44:50.880 --> 01:45:08.480
>> We check them monthly, correct, and our grease traps? >> Quarterly. Yeah. And if it's full, uh, then we have them pump it out. >> Okay. So, congratulations. We got through two

379
01:45:08.480 --> 01:45:25.440
hours of 300 and some pages. Um, is there any other items to be brought forward to this workshop questions since we're all together? [clears throat] >> Yeah, I I have a I have a question.

380
01:45:25.440 --> 01:45:41.199
Two things long term. I think it's important and maybe everyone else knows. I think it's important with this new plant that we understand how many gallons needs to stay committed to septic to

381
01:45:41.199 --> 01:45:58.000
sewer conversion [clears throat] and how many gallons are potentially available for new expansion or other purposes. And so maybe if someone's already done those calculations then share them with me someday. But I I'd like for us now that we have this to

382
01:45:58.000 --> 01:46:13.040
know that. Number two, [clears throat] I'd like to make sure I understand long term. If we were to close Tamoka down, does the town own that property within Tamoka? And then do we have the ability

383
01:46:13.040 --> 01:46:29.598
to sell that property and generate revenue if we aren't going to use that property for utility purposes? >> That would go to the Mr. Attorney to help. That's an interesting question. I would defer to the utility commission [clears throat]

384
01:46:29.598 --> 01:46:46.159
[laughter] >> without giving an opinion on title. My recollection is yes and yes. >> Okay. >> I just want you know as we talk about what our options are and how we fund things. You know, at least several years ago, the conversation was how do we make

385
01:46:46.159 --> 01:47:02.960
it most how do we have the most efficient running system, cut down the number of locations, operator requirements, and if we have a system that can do it all and the other system, I guess we're not, we used to

386
01:47:02.960 --> 01:47:18.800
have two other, now we have one other is just kind of a pain in the side, so to speak. Then let's talk about and I'm I don't know that to be a fact but let's talk about what are the advantages both operationally and financially to over a

387
01:47:18.800 --> 01:47:35.760
period of time [clears throat] closing it down generating revenue reinvesting that revenue back into the wastewater system. So, one of the the questions Roger and I was talking to Jeff, um when they do design and build the lift

388
01:47:35.760 --> 01:47:50.880
station that will go from Tamoka to the new plant, uh there's going to be two lines put in the ground from my understanding. One for the sewer main and then one for reclaim. So, we'll have the reclaimed water uh because we have

389
01:47:50.880 --> 01:48:08.000
ridge, we have ponds there that we could still utilize for additional u like draining. So, there'll be two that and so there'll be a line actually going to those ribs to those ponds for future use if we ever need extra space. So, we

390
01:48:08.000 --> 01:48:23.920
already they're designated as ponds. We could use them. And so, that's the idea of using the ponds. And so that may be the very good reason why we don't want to do what I just suggested. But okay, >> which you just brought up another thing. Um reclaim water. We were I we were

391
01:48:23.920 --> 01:48:41.119
doing some using some reclaimed water historically in the 27 median. Um is the intention the state of Florida going to put the re the gray water back or the purple pipe back and we going to water the medians with reclaimed water moving forward after the road work is done in a

392
01:48:41.119 --> 01:48:55.920
year or two? I I haven't been on this board long enough to >> I think that's to us right and that's that's to us chief with the landscape plan what that they're looking at is do we know where the I'll call the purple

393
01:48:55.920 --> 01:49:12.880
pipe I like to call it that um is going to be >> from my understanding it was supposed to go to the hospital in the median from when I talked to Allan but as soon as we're able to create water >> more >> uh which is soon like like next week or

394
01:49:12.880 --> 01:49:29.920
two. Um then what we already have in the median that they haven't tore up and there's quite a bit that's tore up can have water. >> I just want to make sure we make the full use of whatever we can as far as reclaim water. We don't become in violation of our cup permit blah blah

395
01:49:29.920 --> 01:49:45.119
blah. You know those kinds of things. >> We'll have to look at the the permit that allows us how many gallons we're allowed to use uh if they expand that so we can stay in compliance. I'm pretty sure we we're we're good, but I just don't know what the gallons is per day

396
01:49:45.119 --> 01:50:01.360
they're allowed to use for irrigation if they expand the median. >> Yeah. My recollection is the town's cup permit was relying upon us producing and distributing so many gallons of reclaimed water. So, I just didn't want to be in violation of our cup permit.

397
01:50:01.360 --> 01:50:17.119
>> Okay. Thank you, >> Chief. Anything more on that one? We're good. I know you've been working with Allen and FDOT. just just got involved on that. >> We'll be bringing it up the next council meeting, I believe, to show where we're actually looking at the irrigation going

398
01:50:17.119 --> 01:50:31.360
and as well as the landscaping to make sure that we have the manpower number one to maintain the landscaping and what the state is recommending. >> Okay. But you just brought up something that's

399
01:50:31.360 --> 01:50:49.199
very key that I want to reiterate is is as we start looking at the hookups for the new sewer plant, we made a commitment to DP when we applied for it of the subject to sewer. And so as we're

400
01:50:49.199 --> 01:51:06.719
looking at, call it the combination of people are calling, they want to get hooked up, developers are going to be knocking, they want to get hooked up. Our first commitment is to make sure that we're following the D requirements of whatever that minimum that we need to

401
01:51:06.719 --> 01:51:22.080
hook up to take people on how on the lakes off of septic. So that's a very key point. Thank you for bringing that up and reminding us of that. Any other comments, questions from the dis.

402
01:51:22.080 --> 01:51:41.119
>> When's our next meeting? >> What? Which next? A joint meeting or >> no? Just this board. >> It's the first Tuesday. Uh the next town council meeting is uh is as is next Monday and the first Tuesday of every

403
01:51:41.119 --> 01:52:03.440
month at 1:30 is the loop meeting. Timing's good because then the second Monday you'd be bringing forward to council. Okay. Any other comments, questions from from the commission

404
01:52:03.440 --> 01:52:15.000
out to the audience? Anything staff? Woohoo! Two minutes early. I declare this meeting adjourned at 3:58.

