Water utilities director says force‑main study proposal due this week; $750,000 monitoring-well award cleared for bidding

Vaughn Baker, Lake Worth Beach’s director of water utilities, told commissioners the consultant for the subregional force‑main study — which city staff say is needed to address odors on South Lakeside and Palm Way — experienced a family death and has been delayed, but “has promised that we will have that proposal this week.” Baker said the city will execute a task order and start the study as soon as the consultant delivers the proposal.

Baker reported the utility recently completed water‑main replacements in the downtown alley between Lake and Lucerne, upsizing from 4‑inch to 6‑inch pipe to improve fire flow, and has begun a pipe‑bursting project behind 2 J’s that staff expect to finish within six weeks. He praised recent staff certifications and promotions, including an engineer now registered as an engineer intern and a treatment operator promoted to A‑level.

On litigation tied to an earlier force‑main break, Baker said AT&T’s motion to dismiss was denied and the parties “are hoping that it can be done in mediation,” a step he characterized as the first successful procedural milestone.

Baker also said the city has two executed agreements from last year’s legislative awards and that a $750,000 DEP grant for a dual‑zone monitoring well arrived this week and will be put out to bid. “We are very excited to start using some of that money,” he said.

Commissioners asked for follow‑up on a related drainage complaint downtown; staff said FDOT had issued a March 4 letter ordering a business to eliminate an illegal connection within 30 days and asked the city to enforce illicit‑stormwater provisions in the city code if the business fails to comply.

The commission did not take a final action on any water capital contract during the update; staff said they would return with procurement items and the consultant task order once the study proposal arrives.