Council members were briefed on two related items in the village’s major pump-station improvements program: a staff ratification of engineering services tied to a pending FEMA grant for Acme Pump Station No. 2, and formal approval of a $650,000 state grant and a related village budget amendment that together fund multiple pump station upgrades.

Public works staff requested ratification of $101,345 in professional engineering services with Mark Russo Associates after FEMA requested additional technical information under a conditional grant award for Acme Pump Station No. 2. "They asked for additional hydraulic and hydrology analysis, which put us over the threshold," said Mr. Rinesville, the presenter. Staff said the $101,345 breaks down into $30,000 for permit coordination with the South Florida Water Management District, $51,000 for FEMA-required hydraulic/hydrologic analysis and $20,000 in contingency.

Separately, staff presented a resolution to accept a $650,000 Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) legislative appropriation for the village’s pump-station improvements program and a budget amendment that funds the remainder of the program. Staff described the combined program total as roughly $2.95 million, comprising the $650,000 state award and about $2.3 million in village match and budgeted funds.

Why it matters: pump-station rehabilitation is critical to stormwater management and flood resilience. Staff said the FEMA work and the state grant accelerate rehabilitation work already planned for Wellington’s pump stations.

Council members asked about funding sources and confirmed the engineering ratification uses capital-project funds already allocated for pump-station rehabilitation. Staff said the engineering costs would have been incurred regardless of whether used for internal design or for FEMA grant coordination and that funds are available in the pump-station rehabilitation capital project.

Staff recommended approval of both the ratification and the FDEP grant acceptance and budget amendment; the items were presented to council for formal action during a future meeting. The presenters identified permitting with the South Florida Water Management District and FEMA grant coordination as the immediate next steps.