Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Martin County adopts 10-year asset management and capital plan for water system
Summary
The Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a 2026 Asset Management Plan and 10-year Capital Improvements Plan for the county water distribution system, endorsing a prioritized replacement schedule and life-cycle funding model while adjusting the recommended annual investment to a multiyear timeline.
Martin County commissioners voted unanimously March 20 to accept a 2026 Asset Inventory Assessment (AIA), Asset Management Plan (AMP), and a 10-year Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) for the county’s water distribution system.
The plan, prepared by Withers Ravenel with field work by the Wooten Company, inventories the system and ranks assets by combined likelihood and consequence of failure. Project Engineer Casey Donlan told the board the inventory identified roughly 1,219,301 linear feet of mains (about 231 miles), 1,100 valves, 324 fire hydrants, four storage tanks and three groundwater wells.
The AMP’s risk analysis placed a small share of hydrants and certain mains in higher-risk categories and recommended a life-cycle funding scenario that would invest about $160,000 annually plus 1,070 linear feet of pipe and, separately, $40,000 and five hydrants per year to sustain the system. Donlan said the life-cycle model is intended as a 100-year balancing exercise that guides annual spending to avoid emergencies.
Commissioners said the recommended $160,000/year level was not feasible in the county’s near-term budgets. County Manager Drew Batts told the board staff adjusted the timeline and converted the recommendation into a shorter, three-year prioritized program to address the highest-risk hydrants first. Commissioners adopted a formal resolution accepting the AMP and CIP and directed staff to use the plan as a guide for future investments.
The adoption carries no immediate tax or rate change; the plan is a prioritized project list and funding model. Withers Ravenel also recommended work-order and asset-management software; the consultants named Brightly, PSD Citywide and CentralSquare as options to track maintenance and capital projects.
Next steps include integrating new installations into the county GIS, refining project cost estimates, developing a formal operations-and-maintenance program, and submitting any required documentation for grant or financing opportunities. Commissioner Ronnie Smith, who moved to adopt the resolution, said the plan gives the county a roadmap to replace aged hydrants and reduce emergency repairs.
The resolution was adopted by a 5–0 vote.