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Longwood approves budget amendments to cover emergency sewer repairs and buy shoring equipment
Summary
The commission approved budget changes including tapping $256,000 in utility reserves for emergency sewer repairs, transferring $61,003.70 to water-plant repairs, adding $100,000 to capital for reimbursable park renovations, and allocating $20,000 for reusable shoring boxes to improve crew safety.
The Longwood City Commission on Dec. 15 adopted a set of budget amendments to respond to recent infrastructure needs and funded capital improvements.
Finance Director Dustin Bridal told the commission staff requested four amendments under Resolution 25-17O9. The largest was a request to use about $256,000 from the public-utilities reserves to pay for emergency sewer repairs that had been required over the Thanksgiving period. Bridal said the city is pursuing partial reimbursement from the contractor responsible for the damage and has started claims with the city’s insurer, but some or all cost will be covered from reserves pending recovery efforts.
Bridal also requested a $100,000 addition to capital-project expenses to recognize a FIRDAP grant for park renovations; staff said those funds are reimbursable to the city. He asked for a $61,003.70 transfer within capital accounts to repair a water-plant component to reduce future break risk, and a $20,000 transfer from operations to capital for a portable shoring-box system that will improve worker safety when crews excavate deep repairs.
Public works director Chad Smith explained that shoring boxes prevent trench collapses and are reusable; commissioners noted serious past issues with collapses and supported the equipment purchase. Commissioner McMillan and staff said the city will continue to pursue reimbursement from the contractor and insurer for the sewer damage; Bridal said insurance review had so far not covered the full amount.
After discussion the commission approved the budget amendments on a unanimous roll-call vote.
