Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Council authorizes change orders to upsize sewer line pending DEP confirmation of grant timing
Loading...
Summary
The council authorized change orders to upsize sewer piping for future flows—contingent on written DEP approval that sufficient grant funds and timing are available—so the town can use leftover grant money to complete planned pipeline upgrades.
The Town Council authorized change orders to upsize a sewer force main and related engineering/inspection work at the March meeting, contingent on written confirmation from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that funding and timing permit use of remaining grant dollars.
Utility staff (identified during the meeting as "Bert") explained that changes were originally in the $40 million WG017 grant scope but had been pulled from the first bid package during cost pressures. Staff reported that approximately $3.2 million remained in the grant and proposed using some of that balance for upsizing pipe near the camp/conference area and Marquata/Green Dragon lift station to handle future flows. "I just hate to give back $3.2 million," the utility director said, asking council to authorize him to sign change orders if DEP confirms in writing that the funds and extended reimbursement deadlines can be used for the work.
Council members and residents asked for written confirmation from DEP on timing and reimbursement deadlines before staff signs any change orders. Several asked for an executive summary reconciling what has been paid, outstanding invoices, and the contractor's projected remaining costs. Finance staff (referred to in the meeting as Rachel) said she could provide a reconciled report and that the town would not sign change orders until DEP’s approval was in writing.
A motion to authorize change orders (amounts read into the record) contingent on receiving written DEP approval passed on a council roll call. Engineers from Pennoni later confirmed the treatment plant is about 90–95% physically complete, and staff said the pipe upsizing is intended to accommodate future flows and avoid rework later.
Council members asked staff to present a clear, dated financial reconciliation of grant balances and remaining obligations at the next meeting; staff agreed to provide those materials alongside any DEP correspondence before executing the change orders.
