Auburndale reviews plan to expand wastewater plant to 6 million gallons, weighs $15M–$25M cost and financing

Auburndale city officials on March 16 reviewed a preliminary plan to expand the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant from its current effective capacity toward 6 million gallons per day, and discussed technical, permitting and financing options for the multi‑year project.

Interim City Manager Amy Palmer opened the special workshop and introduced Public Utilities Director Brad Thomas and consultant Vaughan Leer of Chastain‑Skillman, who summarized a 2023 capacity study updated with new figures and a timeline of proposed capital improvements. "As soon as the new city manager comes on board, or shortly thereafter — we will be meeting with them and explaining the upgrade and letting them make decisions relative to what to share with the Commission," Leer said, offering to return for another work session as design progresses.

The consultants estimated a wide cost range because expanding from roughly 4 million to 6 million gallons per day requires different unit processes depending on the solution chosen. Leer said the disparity is "really just 'what does it take capacity‑wise to go from 4 to 6 million gallons per day'" and described tertiary treatment and disc‑filter technology as among the options under consideration. He said preliminary feasibility work produced the updated cost range of about $15 million to $25 million.

Public Utilities Director Brad Thomas and Leer explained that the city's committed capacity today is about 4.8 million gallons per day based on development agreements, while the plant's ultimate planned capacity would be 6 million gallons per day to accommodate projected build‑out. Thomas told commissioners he is confident the 6 million‑gallon expansion will meet long‑term needs based on land‑use modeling and current developer commitments.

The workshop also covered options for effluent disposal and reuse. Leer said Florida Department of Environmental Protection limits surface discharge and that feasible alternatives include spray fields, rapid infiltration basins, public‑access reuse or deep‑well injection — the latter of which is costly because it requires drilling into the Lower Floridan Aquifer. He noted the Polk Regional Water Cooperative is pursuing a deep well that penetrates more than 2,000 feet, and cautioned that direct reuse from wastewater to drinking water would face public‑opinion hurdles.

City Attorney Frederick J. Murphy Jr. and Interim City Manager Palmer reminded the Commission that design and major capital work will be subject to competitive procurement under state guidelines and that the city must consider delivery methods such as design‑bid‑build, design‑build, or construction manager at risk. Palmer said the Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act procedures will require the city to issue requests for qualifications or proposals for engineering and contractor services.

On financing, Finance Director Christopher Reeder and consultant Mickey Johnston of Public Resources Advisory Group reviewed the city's existing debt and options for structuring new debt. Reeder said some debt service is reimbursed in full by Polk County through tourist and development tax revenue. Johnston presented results of a request for proposals for short‑term financing and highlighted one lender with a favorable structure, adding, "we have to close the loan on March 19th, otherwise it is subject to a reset based on a formula." (If the loan is closed by the stated date, the lender's quoted rate would be locked.)

Commissioner Travis Avery asked specifically how debt service would be paid; Reeder said the city's policy is to use restricted water and wastewater connection fees and to budget transfers from the connection charge fund into the water and sewer fund to cover debt service. He emphasized that connection fees are restricted revenues, not general recurring revenue available for other uses.

Commissioners also discussed coordination of construction and easements with other projects. Avery raised the possibility that Phase 3 of the Gapway Force Main overlaps a planned roundabout; Interim City Manager Palmer said staff will meet with property owners and coordinate with Polk County on design and funding. Thomas said engineers were instructed to acquire required easements regardless of the roundabout schedule. Reeder said the force‑main projects and the Pace Road Master Lift Station have been funded on a pay‑as‑you‑go basis to date, while the financing discussed at the workshop targets filters and design at the regional plant.

The presentation was informational; no formal vote or binding decision was recorded at the workshop. The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.