Tequesta utilities director outlines $2.3 million in recent projects, five‑year capital plan and upcoming bids

Marjorie Craig, utilities director for the Village of Tequesta, presented a capital projects update at the council's March 3 workshop meeting, describing completed work, a planning approach, a five‑year projection and upcoming projects.

Craig said the utilities department has completed about $2,300,000 in projects over the past few years and listed major categories including water mains, stormwater pipelining, a new bioswale installed with a $30,000 grant (total project cost about $79,000), storage tank work and SCADA upgrades that improve remote monitoring and control of wells and the water plant. Craig said in-house valve rehabilitation performed by a staff member saved the village about $75,000 and that a newly arrived replacement pump for a deep reverse‑osmosis well cost about $75,000.

The department is moving toward a more programmatic approach to maintenance and capital planning, Craig said, and will add the multi‑quarter project timeline chart to the monthly utilities update and the village website. Craig said the timeline squares are organized by quarter and that staff will update the chart at least monthly for the current fiscal year.

On finances, Craig said the village began the fiscal year with more unrestricted cash than previously projected, which allows staff to advance 2 capital projects that had been deferred. She identified the two projects by name: the Cuesta Drive water main work (previously deferred while adjacent bridge work completed) and replacement of Well Number 19, a surficial aquifer well Craig estimated at about $1 million. Craig said engineers have updated cost estimates for filter‑media and membrane work at the water treatment plant and that funding remains incomplete for some components; she did not give a single consolidated dollar figure for any funding gap.

Craig described conservative internal guidance on unrestricted reserves: a stated minimum of $1.5 million but operational comfort at a 2.0–2.5 coverage level to ensure funds are available for emergencies. She said staff and finance reviewed cash projections and that unrestricted cash is projected to increase under the current plan; Jeff (finance staff) produced the five‑year projection Craig displayed.

Craig and Deputy Director Allison Felsberg discussed sequencing of long lead items at the treatment plant. Craig said the plant has six filter vessels and three membrane treatment trains; operational constraints allow only two filter vessels or one train to be taken offline at a time, which lengthens project timelines. She said staff prefer packaging multiple trains or filter replacements in single procurements to shorten overall schedule and possibly reduce price.

Craig also noted ongoing uncertainty around PFAS regulation and potential costs related to changing state or federal requirements.

The presentation concluded with council discussion of minimum reserves, use of emerging funds to accelerate projects, and confirmation that proposed PAYGO (pay‑as‑you‑go) items and related budget amendments will come to council for approval. Craig said staff will return with updated, periodically revised projections and the new monthly project chart to provide transparency on schedule and delays.

Plans and next steps: staff will publish the quarterly project timeline on the utilities monthly update and website, proceed with the two projects Craig identified if budgets and procurement allow, and seek council approval for any formal budget amendments or PAYGO recommendations.