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Public Works proposes contractor bid to clear overgrown Fox Ridge ditch; county could use MSBU funds to speed work
Summary
After the board asked staff to revisit dissolving the Fox Ridge Municipal Service PU, Public Works proposed hiring a contractor to clear about 2.7 miles of overgrown ditch conveyances using roughly $849,000 in existing MSBU funds and then shift routine maintenance to county crews.
Pasco County Public Works Director Jason Mickle updated commissioners Sept. 16 on options for the Fox Ridge community's 2.7‑mile ditch system after the board previously asked staff to reconsider dissolution of the area's MSPU.
Mickle said the ditch is severely overgrown with invasive trees and underbrush that reduces conveyance and can cause localized flooding. He said county crews could perform the work but the in‑house effort would take about three years and draw heavily on county resources.
As an alternative, Mickle proposed using roughly $849,000 of remaining MSBU funds to hire a contractor through the county procurement process to clear the majority of the system in an estimated 18‑month schedule; after the contractor work, county maintenance crews would assume routine upkeep. Mickle said multiple vendors could bid and staff would follow normal purchasing rules.
Commissioner Mariano supported using the MSBU funds and noted prior work on the system; commissioners asked staff to return with a formal board item and cost estimates. Mickle said staff had met with neighborhood representatives and would bring a project item forward for board approval.
Why it matters: Clearing conveyances can materially reduce recurring neighborhood flooding and improve stormwater performance; using a contractor could speed implementation but consumes MSBU funds the community has accrued.
Next steps: Public Works will prepare bidding documents and a future agenda item for board approval to proceed with contractor work and transfer ongoing maintenance to county crews.
