Apopka council approves continued pump rentals for Border Lake flood mitigation; council OKs additional stormwater funding
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Summary
Council authorized staff to keep rental pumping equipment in place through the authorization period and approved additional funding from the stormwater fund to avoid de‑mobilization and remobilization costs if severe weather requires more pumping.
The Apopka City Council on July 16 voted unanimously to authorize staff to continue renting pumps for the Border Lake temporary flood‑mitigation project through the end of the authorized pumping period and to use stormwater‑fund resources for any needed additional rental or mobilization costs.
Public Works Director Vladimir Simovsky told the council the Border Lake mitigation effort began June 26 and “is performing as anticipated,” with lake elevation reductions tracking engineering projections. Simovsky said the city had secured rental pumps and that removing them now — if the rental company re‑claimed equipment — would make it difficult to remobilize before the authorization window closed; that could require paying new mobilization and setup costs.
“Pumping is progressing according to engineering projections with target levels expected to be achieved in all lakes,” Simovsky said. He asked the council for authorization to maintain pump rentals through the authorization period and said any additional rental costs would be paid from the stormwater fund. Staff explained that earlier budget actions had already appropriated funds for the initial pumping phases.
Council members and several residents urged swift continuation of the work because the project had already reduced lake levels and because restarting pumps later could delay mitigation. Some speakers raised process questions about right‑of‑entry forms on private properties where pumps are located and asked whether property owners had been properly notified; staff said the utility and right‑of‑entry paperwork had been coordinated but acknowledged paperwork updates and owner confirmations had taken additional time in a few locations.
After public comment and questions about property authorizations, the council approved the staff request to keep the pumps in place and to use the stormwater fund for additional rental or mobilization as needed. Staff said the pump rental authorization and right‑of‑entry arrangements extend through August 30 and that city staff would continue communications with affected property owners.