Board approves 20‑year FP&L power‑services lease to provide natural‑gas backup at 9000 Town Center

The county voted 5–1 to approve a 20‑year power‑services agreement with Florida Power & Light that will remove two aging diesel generators at 9000 Town Center and install two natural‑gas generators, along with associated automatic transfer equipment and a gas feed. Carrie Knight, director of property management, told commissioners the contract covers installation, temporary backup during construction, and 20 years of maintenance; the total contract value discussed in the meeting was cited at roughly $12.48 million and monthly payments were described in presentation materials as about $52,000.

"It's the backup power system for the building," Carrie Knight said, explaining the organization will also relocate automatic transfer switches and bring in a buried natural‑gas feed to reduce dependence on delivered fuel during emergencies.

Commissioner McCann objected to the long‑term cost, asking whether the county had known the units were near end‑of‑life when the building was purchased. Staff responded that deferred maintenance and replacements were anticipated as part of the overall project budget and that the lease model avoids a large upfront capital outlay (an estimated $9 million capital project if the county purchased and installed generators directly). Commissioner Cruz explained the agreement spreads capital and maintenance costs over time and retains ownership of the equipment with the vendor.

The board approved the agreement 5–1, with Commissioner McCann voting nay.

Why this matters: the generators are intended to provide resilient backup for a facility that will serve as a rally point for public works and emergency operations; the procurement structure shifts upfront capital expense into a long‑term service contract that will affect future operating budgets.