- April 26, 2024
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The city government is preparing for the possibility of expanding its capacity at Wastewater Treatment Plant 2 and adding staff members at its Utility Department, Building Department and Stormwater Division.
“The rule of thumb is when you hit to 80% of your capacity, you need to start planning for the next phase,” Utility Director Richard Adams told City Council members at a July 30 council workshop. “We are already over 80% of our capacity, so we want to start the planning process.”
Finance Director Helen Alves added, “There has been growth within the community; there have also been increasing chemical costs.”
The discussion came as the City Council worked to prepare the city’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
One benefit of starting the planning process for the expansion early, Adams said, is that it will make it easier to seek Florida Department of Environmental Protection funding for design of the project through a Clean Water State Revolving Fund grant.
Design and planning is expected to cost approximately $121,580.
Other proposed wastewater and utility work would include increased line replacement and pipe lining, ditch restorations in the E-Section and the R-Section (the E-Section, W-Section and F-Section are being worked on this fiscal year), the construction of a weir on Smith Trail and canal dredging in the E-Section.
The city, as usual, would also rehab 25 miles of swales.
The city is spending approximately $8.6 million in capital project expenses on wastewater projects this year, but proposing $20.3 million for fiscal year 2020.
The city is proposing a 29.6% increase in administrative costs for utility operations in 2020, with a 7.9% revenue increase. The proposed budget includes planned merit raises of 3% and a 2% salary adjustment for staff.
Proposed personnel changes include adding a deputy chief building official and a plans examiner or building inspector, as determined, for the Building Department.
