Tequesta council approves water projects, hears PFAS and habitat delays; $785,000 water capital item cited in budget amendment

Village of Tequesta officials on May 8 moved forward on multiple water and utilities projects, authorizing engineering work and awarding a construction contract while flagging schedule risks tied to wildlife protections and state or federal treatment rules.

Council approved a work authorization for Holt Consulting for Watermain 1 replacement and put the Dover Ditch and other water projects out for bid. Utilities Director Marjorie Craig said the Dover Ditch project was permitted after nearly two years and would be advertised for bid on May 13; “The Dover Ditch project’s finally been permitted after almost 2 years,” she said.

The council also approved a work authorization to proceed with well 19 replacement that staff said is ready to move forward but faces a likely short delay because protected gopher tortoise burrows were found on the site. Craig told the council that surveys found burrows and that the well site was not included in the lease, requiring a lease amendment; she said staff anticipated a one- to two-month delay to revise the lease and complete required mitigation steps.

Deputy Utilities Director Allison Falsberg advised council that equipment lead times — particularly for control panels and RTU cabinets — are long and that part of the contract schedule accounts for these gaps: “The control panel for the well… they’re about a year out for a lead time,” she said, explaining why contract durations include time when crews may be waiting on equipment.

Council approved award of the water treatment plant filter-media replacement to the lowest responsive bidder, Florida Design Contractors. The project replaces filter media in surface-aquifer filters and includes rehabilitation of internal equipment as needed. In discussion, Craig cautioned that evolving PFAS/PFOA regulatory standards could change future treatment requirements and costs; she said regulators were discussing raising a proposed limit in federal or state guidance from 4 parts-per-trillion to a higher number and that different PFAS compounds require different treatment approaches. “They are looking at possibly 10 to 15, and they are looking at at revising that rule potentially,” Craig said.

Finance staff presented the council’s first budget amendment of the fiscal year, which included reimbursements and revenue related to Hurricane Milton, insurance recoveries for a destroyed public-works pole, EMS transport revenue, and a planned water capital item of $785,000 that will come from reserves. Finance Director Jeff told the council the total change to the village budget in the amendment was $1.3 million.

All motions to approve the work authorizations, award and the budget amendment passed on council voice votes.