Martin County tentatively approves 134 grinder hookups for Sewell's Point after heated debate

The Martin County Board of County Commissioners voted 3–2 on Nov. 18 to grant tentative approval for the Town of Sewell’s Point to add 134 grinder sewer connections to a septic-to-sewer project, after residents and town officials described recurring sewage on streets and urged rapid use of expiring state funds.

The board’s action follows a town presentation that traced the project’s history to a 2022 interlocal agreement and an $8.4 million Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) resiliency grant for sanitary sewer. Town consultant Joe Capra told commissioners the interlocal originally contemplated 340 connections (two interlocal blocks of 169 and 171), and that the town now seeks 134 additional grinder stations in low-lying South Sewell’s Point areas to use remaining grant funds before a June 2026 expenditure deadline.

“Those are inches thick of nothing but raw sewage that’s just sitting there,” David Kurtzman, identified in the meeting as mayor of Sewell’s Point, told the board during public comment, describing recurring king‑tide flooding and sewage entering yards and the Indian River Lagoon.

Supporters said the additional grinders would immediately reduce raw effluent reaching the lagoon and allow the town to expend federal‑source grant money in county projects. “We have the money, we can match it,” Kim Spears, a longtime Sewell’s Point resident and real‑estate broker, said, referencing the grant and an estimated individual hookup fee range.

Opponents raised procedural and policy objections. Frank Titticus, a Sewell’s Point commissioner, urged denial and argued the town had previously chosen an option that exceeded the county’s grinder‑system policy and thereby misled grantors. “Town of Sewell’s Point intentionally misled the state of Florida and its grant application and Martin County,” he said.

Commissioners debated whether approving the 134 grinders would set a precedent or jeopardize other county projects that rely on limits in the county’s grinder‑system policy. County utilities staff warned that approving the request would require a specific board finding to amend or create an exception to the policy limiting the number of grinder systems, and that staff needed assurances the town would pursue gravity systems where feasible.

Commissioner Capps moved to approve the request with two conditions: that the county grant only a tentative approval pending submission and county approval of detailed grinder plans, and that the town agree to vigorously pursue grants for gravity systems for remaining lots. That motion carried 3–2, with Commissioners Vargas and Hurd dissenting.

County staff said the DEP grant requires matching funds and that an estimated connection fee for residents ranges from about $8,000 to $12,000; the town intends to use connection fees as the required match. The town’s presentation said approximately $5.1 million of the $8.4 million grant remained available.

The board also directed staff to prepare the finding and any policy amendment necessary to authorize the additional grinders and asked for the plans and an interlocal assignment to return to the board within roughly 30 days.

The decision was the meeting’s most contested item and followed extensive public comment from Sewell’s Point residents and town commissioners describing health and environmental concerns. The board’s earlier business that morning included ceremonial proclamations, routine procedural votes and the reorganization election in which Chair Hurd remained chair and Commissioner Campey was re-elected vice chair.

The item is expected to return to the board for plan approval and formal interlocal assignment; the board’s tentative approval does not change individual hookup requirements nor the town’s existing commitment that hookups are voluntary unless a drain field fails.