Interim manager outlines 96‑hour storm‑preparedness push, including purchase of two pumps

Interim city manager Joe Mahoney on June 6 told the Edgewater City Council he has launched a rapid set of actions to ready the city for hurricane season. Mahoney said the city will buy two portable pumps — one to maintain continuous flow at the post‑storm 18th Street Canal and one to increase capacity at Duck Lake before storms — and bring a budget amendment for the purchases to the July 7 council meeting.

The update was billed as a 96‑hour status report. Mahoney said the purchases are intended to make the city “self‑reliant” for initial post‑storm response rather than depend immediately on state equipment. He also said public works will adopt a written pump operation and maintenance policy and that three building inspectors will be sent to become certified stormwater inspectors "scheduled for late July," enabling them to inspect new construction and to issue stop‑work orders for improper erosion and dewatering controls.

Mahoney said code enforcement had reviewed prior private stormwater violations, forwarded three noncompliant locations to public works, and that weekend overtime mowing would begin immediately to increase retention‑area capacity. He added a city hall remodel that had been paused has restarted and that staff are working on a new public works director job description.

Residents who spoke during public comment praised the rapid preparedness steps. Art Slack, who identified himself as a local resident, told the council Mahoney "has his act together" and urged the council to focus on beating the next storm.

Mahoney said staff would return to the July 7 meeting with updates on the pump purchases, the certification schedule, and progress on catch‑basin and retention work. The council adjourned after later business.