County to move $21.7 million Restore grant for multi‑jurisdiction septic‑to‑sewer conversions to Thursday consent agenda amid resident concerns about forced tie

Santa Rosa County staff told commissioners they were prepared to accept a $21,711,330 grant award from RESTORE/DPR implementation funding to install sewer connections and convert up to about 900 residential septic tanks across multiple municipal service areas. The commission moved the award to the next meeting’s consent agenda for formal approval.

Why it matters: County staff said the grant would extend sewer service and replace residential septic systems in areas where sewer is available or will be extended, which county officials and state regulators say protects nearby water bodies. Some residents urged the county not to force hookups and raised concerns about the cost of tap‑in fees and whether connection would be mandatory.

Grant details and county position: County staff described the award as a multi‑jurisdictional project that would involve Pace Water System, Gulf Breeze Water, the Regional Water System, Holly Navarre Water and the town of Jay. Staff and the county’s grant manager said the funding will be used for system connections where sewer becomes available; they noted the county is aligning local ordinance language with state statute in order to be competitive for grants and for consistency with other jurisdictions.

Resident concerns: Multiple speakers in public forum said the presence of new sewer lines should not be used to force homeowners to disconnect working septic systems. Ryan Fowler, a Pace resident and frequent public commenter, said that state law does not itself force hookups but allows counties to set enforcement mechanisms, and asked the county to keep hookups voluntary and avoid fines or penalties for homeowners who choose not to hook up. Michael Sinclair and other residents asked about tap and connection fees and where funds for low‑income assistance might come from.

Board action and next steps: The commission moved the grant award to Thursday’s consent agenda without recorded objection so the formal grant acceptance and any required budget amendments can be handled at that meeting. Staff said the grant will require coordination with the named utilities and will include permitting, design and outreach steps. Administrator Brad Baker and staff said they would return with implementation details and any affordability programs or tap‑fee assistance that might be part of implementation.

Ending: Commissioners and staff congratulated the county grant team for securing a large federal/state restoration award. Staff will bring formal acceptance documents and budget amendments for board action at the next scheduled meeting.