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Stormwater advisory chair: Polk County spending spikes to about $27 million this year as projects move from planning to construction
Summary
Dave Carter told commissioners the county’s stormwater program has accumulated funds and grant awards that together drive an unusually large $27 million in projects this year, including Lake Lulu and Lake Marion work; staff said monitoring shows slightly more lakes improving than declining.
Dave Carter, chairman of Polk County’s Stormwater Technical Advisory Committee, told the Board of County Commissioners that 2025 is “a big year” for stormwater capital work as design and construction start for several long‑planned projects.
Carter said the county’s MSTU (municipal service taxing unit) generates roughly $2.5 million a year and that accumulated carryover plus grant awards — including American Rescue Plan funds — have pushed this year’s spending to about $27,000,000. “That money is being spent on some capital projects that have been long in the planning process,” he said. Carter told the board staff samples about 100 lakes four times a year and that “about twice as many lakes are improving as are declining,” though many show no significant trend.
The presentation highlighted ongoing or recently completed projects including Lake Gwyn, Walker Road Park treatment improvements, Lake Lulu wetland reconnection work and the Lake Annie restoration (construction expected to finish in 2026). Carter described street sweeping, outfall inspections and sediment-removal efforts — noting a single sediment cleanout removed “about 400 pounds” in one location and about “700 pounds of material” in combined nitrogen and phosphorus pulled from another.
Commissioners asked for details about funding and public access to monitoring data; staff pointed residents to the Polk County Water Atlas (polkwateratlas.com). In response to a question about grant ROI, Carter said staff estimates the county has secured “north of $50,000,000 in grant money” over the last decade to match county dollars. The board did not take additional action on the report; commissioners thanked Carter and opened other agenda items.
