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Brandon resident faults South Hillsborough pipeline outreach; board discussion and consent item note Gray Robinson’s role
Summary
A Brandon resident said neighborhood outreach over the South Hillsborough pipeline was insufficient; staff described multiple outreach methods over several years. A consent‑agenda item approved a conflict waiver related to Gray Robinson’s representation in eminent‑domain work for the project and possible Hillsborough School Board parcels.
Karen Hillary of Brandon told the Tampa Bay Water board in public comment that residents learned about the South Hillsborough pipeline "too late" and that the agency had not used community input meaningfully. "We were not informed of the pipeline properly until it was too late," Hillary said, adding that residents were told the pipeline "is coming to us no matter what."
Board members and staff discussed the project's outreach record after public comment. Staff member Brandon Moore said the agency has logged "nearly a hundred communications between 2019 and today," including postcards, surveys, virtual meetings, emails, door hangers and social media. Moore said one virtual public meeting was held specifically on the long‑term master plan and pipeline prior to the board decision, and that surveys and postcards sought input on engineering route criteria.
Commissioner Eggers pressed for clarity on what outreach occurred "before the decision was made," asking whether in‑person community meetings had been held. Moore confirmed there was one virtual meeting; staff said additional outreach included follow‑up emails and resurveying when routes were narrowed from 10 to 3. Commissioners Westall and others urged more in‑field public engagement for future major capital projects.
The matter also surfaced in the consent agenda. Item A‑8 noted that Gray Robinson is handling eminent‑domain work for the South Hillsborough pipeline and that a partner firm also represents the Hillsborough County School Board for two parcels on the project route; staff described a conflict waiver to permit Gray Robinson to proceed subject to the parties retaining separate counsel if negotiations on those school‑board parcels fail. The consent agenda (which included A‑8 and other items) was approved unanimously.
Staff and board members said they would follow up with additional detail about the types and counts of outreach materials sent and consider more field presence for future projects. The board did not change the pipeline routing or reverse prior decisions during the meeting.
