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Loxahatchee Groves council directs staff to advance CIP amendment after debate over grant, engineering and in‑house work
Summary
The Town of Loxahatchee Groves Town Council on July 1 directed staff to prepare an amending ordinance to update the town’s Capital Improvement Plan after a debate about grant-related engineering costs, lobbying, and whether to perform road work in‑house or with a contractor.
The Town of Loxahatchee Groves Town Council on July 1 considered amendments to the town’s Capital Improvement Plan that would add or reallocate funds for multiple road, drainage and utility projects.
Town manager Francine Romalia and Public Works Director Gallant told council the packet lists a $100,000 allocation for Transportation Planning Agency (TPA) grant work for the Okeechobee Boulevard corridor—split between engineering design and local lobbying—and a $133,350 line to advance drainage, road and potable-water planning in the Loxahatchee Homes area. Council members pressed staff for a breakdown of engineering versus lobbying costs and for timing and materials impacts if the town did work inhouse rather than hire a contractor.
The discussion centered on whether the town should perform the A Road/160th work with town crews or engage a contractor. Public works staff said using a contractor would let the town save on materials because contractors were procuring and staging material for concurrent projects, and contractors bring larger crews and equipment that can finish faster. Council members who represent affected neighborhoods pushed to avoid delaying road projects and to protect residents who have waited years for repairs.
After extended discussion, council recorded a 4–1 consensus to direct staff to move forward with the CIP amendments as written and instructed staff to prepare an amending ordinance. The council directed staff to schedule a first reading at the August meeting and an adoption hearing in September. The motion counted four members in favor, one opposed; no roll-call votes with names were recorded on the transcript.
Council members and staff also asked that the agenda packet clarify which projects were already approved in prior actions and which items were newly proposed in the amendment. Town staff said they would provide updated line items and that the ordinance process would allow further amendment at first reading.
The council’s direction does not itself appropriate the funds; an amending ordinance will be introduced and must complete the town’s required readings before any line-item changes take legal effect.
