Riviera Beach utility board extends US Water maintenance contract 3–2 pending final report

The Riviera Beach Utility Special District voted 3–2 on Nov. 17 to extend US Water’s maintenance contract for a limited period, with the board directing the executive director and city manager to oversee any continued maintenance within the existing $4,000,000 appropriation.

Board members divided over whether the district had enough information to authorize additional work. Supporters argued the contractor’s expertise remains essential. “US Water was one of the ones that saved us,” one board member said, urging the district to keep expert assistance while staff finishes the transition. Opponents said they needed a formal comparison of plant and water‑quality metrics before approving more work.

Utility director Joshua Neiman told the board staff is reconciling remaining contract funds and estimated they could be between $500,000 and $750,000, but he recommended approving only maintenance work within the previously approved budget. “Anything that would go beyond this, it would be my recommendation to approve no additional contracts or sum of money,” Neiman said.

The motion, which asked that US Water continue maintenance services under the direction of the executive director and the city manager and not exceed budgeted funds, passed with the following roll call: Davis Pannier — Yes; Guyton — Yes; Spiritus — Yes; Vice Chair Miller Anderson — No; Chair Shirley Lanier — No.

Neiman and US Water’s senior project manager, Michael Miller, said US Water will reduce daily on‑site staffing after Friday but will remain available for maintenance and weekly oversight while the district’s staff assumes day‑to‑day operations. Miller said US Water will include a comparison of conditions when it arrived and at exit in a final report to be delivered as part of the transition documentation.