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Lake Placid utility officials press for mandatory sewer hookups to use $40 million plant
Summary
Town staff told the Lake Placid Regional Utility Board that state rules and grant requirements make mandatory connections central to using a new $40 million advanced wastewater treatment plant, while residents urged cautious, compensatory approaches for homeowners facing hookup costs.
Town Administrator Charlotte told the Lake Placid Regional Utility Board at its July meeting that the town must align its utility ordinance, rates and grant strategy to make full use of a newly built advanced wastewater treatment plant and to meet state water-quality mandates.
"The town was previously awarded the $40,000,000 grant, which included 9 utility infrastructure projects," Charlotte said, describing how construction costs for the new plant forced the town to defer six of nine originally planned projects and left the system operating far under capacity.
The board heard that the advanced wastewater treatment plant is designed to treat 1,000,000 gallons per day but is currently serving roughly 300,000 gallons — about 30% of capacity — because many nearby properties remain on septic systems. Charlotte said mandatory connections are a legal and practical tool to increase system flows, qualify for future grants and protect lake and aquifer health.
"Mandatory connections support water quality improvements, public health protection, and a resilient utility that's future ready and grant eligible," Charlotte said, adding that future state and federal funding programs — cited by staff as SRF, CWSRF and Resilient Florida — will expect enforceable mandatory-connection policies to meet eligibility rules.
Leanne Bemis, the town's utility compliance coordinator, provided a snapshot of the town's septic burden. "As of our last BMAP report that we were required to file, we have 346 town properties that are currently on septic tanks," Bemis said, a figure board members used to estimate the scale of work needed to meet Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) obligations.
Staff outlined a prioritized, grant-driven sequence of nine infrastructure projects tied to the original $40 million award and current grant applications. Top priorities the town is seeking funding for are: building a lift station and force main to decommission the Tomoka wastewater plant and route flows to the new regional plant; a Simpsonville lift station/force main project (staff estimate: about 150 homes); and Southtown sewer upgrades (staff estimate: about 200 homes). Other projects listed in the presentation carry estimates ranging from dozens to several hundred homes affected (Simpsonville ~150, Lake Serena & Pearl ~150, North & South Lake Placid ~300, Lake June Point ~90, Placid Lakes Canals ~700, Lake June Road ~253 existing homes plus 37 new customers).
Residents and board members pressed staff for detail on costs and timing. One resident, Pam Pinterest (12373 Lost Lake Drive), summarized public concern and history: "I don't think there's any going back," she said, referring to the town's acceptance of the grant and ensuing state expectations after passage of House Bill 1379 and BMAP requirements. Several speakers emphasized that the town had limited staff and funding, and that grants are competitive and time-sensitive.
Staff described mitigation steps under consideration: a phased mandatory-connection ordinance designed to meet statutory and FDEP expectations while pairing connection requirements with grant-funded or subsidized homeowner-assistance programs (grants for grinder pumps, low-interest financing or on-bill repayment were discussed as examples). Mary Gavin, a consultant working on grant applications, and Bert Harris (town utilities staff) were identified as assisting the town with grant pursuit and technical work.
Board members asked for a written ordinance, cost estimates and scenarios before taking a formal vote. Several members said they were hesitant to approve an ordinance or policy without clearer numbers on homeowner costs, proposed exemptions and the extent of available grant funding. Staff said they would return with more detailed materials and that Florida Rural Water Association is preparing a phased rate study to inform potential rate increases.
In the meeting's discussion of legal and regulatory context, staff cited "Florida statute 381.00655" and the town's inclusion in a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) priority focus area. Staff said FDEP and the Florida Department of Health now expect enforceable local actions to reduce septic-related nutrient loading in impaired basins and that some grant programs prioritize municipalities that adopt enforceable septic phase-out timelines.
Next steps listed by staff included: preparing draft ordinance language incorporating mandatory-connection thresholds required by funders; completing a rate study and financial scenarios; identifying grant opportunities and timelines; and returning to the board with a packet of ordinances, cost estimates, and implementation options at the next meeting so members could make an informed recommendation to council. No formal policy votes were taken on mandatory connections during the meeting.
Votes at the start of the meeting: the board approved the meeting agenda by roll call (Ben Brewer, Jack Conley, Matt Elliott and Tom Rancourt recorded as voting yes).
