Margate commission approves up to $120 million water and wastewater bond at second reading

The Margate City Commission on Feb. 19 approved on second reading an ordinance authorizing the issuance of up to $120 million in water and wastewater improvement revenue bonds to finance capital upgrades to the city’s water and wastewater systems.

The ordinance, described at the meeting as authorizing one or more series of bonds and providing for security from net system revenues, passed after a public hearing and a roll-call vote. City staff said proceeds will fund a 20-year program of capital improvements to the system and that the commission previously approved a rate structure to support the debt service.

Commissioners and city staff discussed how the work will be funded and how residents might see improvements. City staff told the commission the project was structured as a bond issue because of the total cost and that the rate increases approved earlier will pay for the debt. The commission and staff also said Margate’s average water bill remained comparatively low in county comparisons once all charges are included.

During the public-comment period, several residents asked questions about water quality and related health issues. Donatello, a Margate resident, asked, “Does this mean that we’re gonna get some quality H2O?” City staff responded that early phases target older pipes and infrastructure and that residents in affected areas should see improvements.

Julie Vandermuellen, a Margate resident, urged the commission to consider PFAS-related claims and lawsuits, saying clinicians had tested a family member for PFAS and that the results were unexpectedly high. Vandermuellen said that some municipalities have pursued legal remedies and that Margate should be aware of those processes.

Commissioner Rosano addressed local plumbing issues and homeowner responsibility, noting that replacing the water line from the meter to a house is typically a homeowner cost. Rosano said, “Going from your meter to your house is the homeowners responsibility,” and suggested the city consider a voluntary or subsidized program to help residents replace aging service lines.

Commissioners and staff agreed to provide residents with regular updates about projects funded by the bond and to publish progress and timelines on the city website. Staff also said the city will report back on financing details once the bonds are sold and interest rates are finalized.

The ordinance repeals and replaces prior ordinances governing water-system financings, and commission members noted residents approved the bond program in a prior vote that shaped the commission’s approach.

No specific effective date for individual projects was announced at the meeting; staff said construction and replacement work will be phased over many years and that more detailed schedules would be published as contracts are executed.