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Board hears report on aging pipes, billing questions and hydrant repairs
Summary
Council members reviewed recent water main breaks, materials and repairs, a hydrant painting and repair project that began before Christmas, and the utility director’s year-end accomplishments including asset-management work and grant awards.
Board members spent part of the meeting on operational issues affecting drinking water and distribution infrastructure, including recent main breaks, meter-read practices and a hydrant painting and repair project.
Leanne Bemis, the town’s utility coordinator, said two of the last 10 line breaks resulted from contractor locating errors, two were caused by struck fire hydrants and others were service-line failures. Bemis said the town’s system contains a mix of pipe materials—cast iron, ductile iron and various PVC types—and staff are replacing older service lines and upgrading mains to modern C900 pipe when funds allow.
Finance staff explained that recent fluctuations in residential bills result from meter reads being applied in thousand-gallon increments: a household that uses 4,010 gallons may appear on a different billing increment than one that uses 5,010 gallons the next month, producing month-to-month bill swings despite similar usage.
On the hydrant work, staff said a contracted program to paint and repair hydrants began the week before Christmas, crews started in the Tomoka area and leaders expect the project to take about 4–6 weeks. Two damaged hydrants identified by crews have already been repaired.
Utilities leadership also delivered a brief year-end report highlighting accomplishments: a utility rate increase intended to build capital and operations funds; a water/wastewater asset management plan produced by Florida Rural Water; new lift stations, force-main work and SCADA-related grant awards intended to strengthen operations.
The board did not take formal action on these operational items but staff said they will continue replacements and one-on-one briefings with council members as budget and grant opportunities allow.
