Commissioners debate plan to replace all city manholes; staff proposes scaled approach

Flagler Beach — A planned program to replace all of the city’s roughly 310 manholes drew pushback Aug. 13 as commissioners said replacing functioning manholes citywide is an unnecessary expense and staff agreed to revise the capital figure.

Staff said the 50‑per‑year program was rooted in a January 2023 discussion in which the commission asked about replacing manholes at a roughly 50‑per‑year rate; staff used that direction when drafting the multiyear capital plan. Commissioners asked whether the replacements were needed or if the city could adopt an as‑needed approach.

Commissioner comments emphasized cost tradeoffs. “I’m of the mindset that…it would be a hard sell to tell me that every manhole cover needs replaced in the city. All 310. I think we should replace any of them that need replacing and that's it,” one commissioner said. Staff acknowledged that many of the highest‑priority replacements had been shifted this cycle toward flood‑prone areas and that some manholes had failed during recent storm surges, causing sewer overflows.

Staff proposed revising the planned $250,000 allocation for manholes: moving to a lower baseline (staff suggested figures as low as $150,000) while reserving funds so replacements can be funded as needed. Commissioners directed staff to return with a revised figure and to preserve the money in the utility enterprise fund for manhole needs rather than spending it elsewhere.

Why it matters: staff said some manhole failures had produced sewer geysers and overflows during storms, and replacement can prevent environmental releases; commissioners stressed prioritizing actual need to make efficient use of utility funds.

No formal vote was recorded; staff will adjust the capital plan figures and report back.