Utility director reports construction progress; bulk water agreement and conference-center hookups remain outstanding

Utility Director Hector Berg updated the advisory board on construction and operations projects, reporting progress on the wastewater plant, meter-reading equipment and other capital items while noting outstanding legal and contractual steps affecting revenue.

Berg said new meter-reading towers have been installed and are in service and staff are installing a skid, pumps and piping to convert Tomoka Water Plant from chlorine gas to liquid chlorine; he expects that work to be complete by the end of the month. He also reported the wastewater plant construction is progressing and is “on pacing for completion in February of ’26,” and that the engineering oversight is approximately 45% complete.

Berg reported two small change orders on the wastewater plant: a variable-frequency-drive upgrade (about $20,000) and a Duke Energy service change to bring power to the new transformer (about $8,000). He described a pipe-bursting project as 99% complete and in close-out for the CDBG grant.

Board members asked about a recent lift-station outage at the Camp and Conference Center. Berg said lightning during a recent storm caused an electrical issue; staff reset systems and restored service and there was no overflow. He said the conference center is still completing its internal connections to the lift station under a DEP consent order, and the town is in the process of setting up a utility account for the conference center.

Resident Pam Fentress emphasized revenue concerns and the long delay in a bulk-water agreement referenced in meeting materials. Fentress asked whether there is any sewer revenue coming from the Camp and Conference Center; Berg responded the town is “setting the account up now.” Fentress urged the advisory board to consider a resolution to encourage the town council to finalize the bulk-water agreement and accelerate connector work, arguing that sewer and water co-location is important for planning and revenue forecasting.

Berg said outstanding items include waiting for structures, control pumps and control panels at the South Plant and that some force-main bores under railroad tracks remain to be completed but are expected in the next few weeks. He also noted two change orders have been kept minimal.

Next steps: staff will continue construction oversight, track outstanding equipment deliveries, finalize CDBG close-out documentation, assist with the Camp and Conference Center account setup, and continue to pursue the bulk-water agreement and related legal negotiations.