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City manager outlines wastewater plant, pipeline, spray-field progress; east access could save $5 million
Summary
City Manager Tim Spears updated council on progress toward a new wastewater treatment plant, pipeline and spray-field disposal site. Staff said permits are under review, geotechnical and environmental work is underway at a proposed disposal site, and using an eastern access route could cut construction costs by roughly $5 million.
City Manager Tim Spears told the Milton City Council that the city’s wastewater program is advancing on multiple fronts: permit applications are under review by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, design for a downtown pump station is roughly 60% complete, and site work and environmental due diligence for a proposed effluent disposal area are in progress.
Spears said the consultant reports (provided to council) show geotechnical work and groundwater monitoring about 50% complete for the 260-acre disposal parcel; cultural resources surveys are approximately 75% complete and wetland delineation roughly 20% complete. Spears told the council that gopher tortoises were identified on the site; staff said relocation is feasible and will not stop the project.
On pipeline and access, staff described two routing options to reach the new plant site. An eastern access route that would rely on existing public easements is substantially shorter, and staff estimated preliminary short‑term construction savings of about $5,000,000 if the necessary east‑side easements are confirmed and enforceable. Staff said they will pursue confirmation of those easements and, if secured, will use the east access in final design to realize the savings.
Spears also reported that the city is coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies to allow a shortened directional drill crossing near the Peter Prince Field airfield and that agreements with CSX and FDOT are part of the permitting sequence. City staff said that if clearing and right‑of‑way work are completed by the end of the year, city crews could begin installing pipeline sections in house to accelerate the schedule and reduce costs.
Finally, Spears said the city has applied to extend a consent order to 2030 while the project proceeds, and that staff expect to return with a land‑clearing contract for the Springfield site before year end. The update included timelines and next steps; no formal council action was taken at the meeting beyond accepting the update.
