Milton council approves $241,248 geotechnical task order to address FDEP RAI

The Milton City Council voted unanimously to approve a $241,248 task order for additional geotechnical exploration and surveying aimed at responding to a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) request for additional information on proposed effluent-disposal sites.

Staff and Donovan Hill Group engineer Rick Delp described the work as 12 borings (six in each of two general areas identified by FDEP) advanced below the water table to characterize subsurface conditions that FDEP said are needed to evaluate whether spray fields, RIBs or man-made wetlands are permissible on the sites. Delp said a survey will follow the borings and that a map of boring locations will be posted to FDEP’s website and provided to the city once available.

During public input Pam Mitchell asked that the public and council understand the money is being spent to create robust data for decision-making and not to placate any single interest, and Joe Hurley cautioned the council that purple pipe is typically reserved by Florida code for reclaimed nonpotable water and urged the city to consider code implications before repurposing color-coded pipe for raw sewage. The council made the motion to approve and the mayor announced the item was unanimously approved by all members present.