Posted on December 17, 2018
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is providing Port St. Joe commissioners no real choice.
The city will move ahead with biological dredging of the wastewater lagoon after the first of the year, aiming to avoid fines for violating a Consent Order with the FDEP.
The city must start the work by Feb. 24 under that order, though the city will have to dip into precious reserves due to a lack of funding.
Sea-Today, the low bidder for the work, is well familiar with the lagoon having performed a pilot project, free of charge, late last year.
They have done much of the homework needed, said city staff.
However, the city budgeted $115,000 in the current budget for the work while the bill will be $150,000 in the first year and $130,000 each of the ensuing two years.
And with the turmoil to city revenues and assets after Hurricane Michael, any spending beyond the budget receives a chilly response.
They city had hoped to secure some additional funding for the project through the State Revolving Fund.
However, an application to dip into a fund established for post-natural disaster dollars was deemed not eligible because the issues at the lagoon were considered “pre-existing.”
The city continues to pursue state grant funding and has solicited the assistance of Florida Rural Water, a non-profit focused on assisting small water systems and which has worked with the city on several recent projects.
The city went down the path of biological dredging as the least costly option for addressing issues with the lagoon.
In the short term, there were violations of rules pertaining to the chemical make-up of what was being discharged as well as aesthetic problems with odor during warm months when algae builds that impacts adjacent neighborhoods.
Long-term, the city was looking at a need to dredge sludge from the bottom of the 75-acre lagoon within six to 10 years, a project that would cost in the millions.
Sea-Today reported it made significant progress in removing the sludge from the bottom of the lagoon during the pilot project.
“Biological dredging was the most economical option,” said City Manager Jim Anderson. “And now, we just have to do it. The DEP is not giving us a choice.”
Further, the dynamics of the lagoon itself have changed dramatically; once exclusively for heavy industrial use it is now entirely part of a residential system.
Speaking ordinance
Commissioners last week tabled for another time consideration of an ordinance dictating public speaking parameters during meetings.
The issue arose during a series of meetings through the spring and summer pertaining to proposed expansion of the 10th Street Ball Park, which included lengthy public discussion.
Commissioners were frustrated with some speakers donating their time to others, speakers returning again and again to the podium and the amount of time spent traveling well-worn paths.
In addition, after declaring time limits during several meetings, the limits were unevenly applied, with some speakers allowed to continue after their limit was reached.
The ordinance crafted by the city attorney would largely follow the county’s policies, but Commissioner Scott Hoffman expressed his disapproval of the portion of the ordinance requiring speakers to fill out forms in advance.
“I don’t think we should mandate that people fill out a form to speak,” Hoffman said, noting that speakers already sign in and provide their name to the clerk for the record.
Others on the board said the overriding goal should be an ordinance applied uniformly.
“As long as it is fair and people have an equal opportunity, I will be fine,” said Commissioner David Ashbrook.
SBA
As of Tuesday, the local Small Business Administration office had provided some 646 loans valued at $38.7 million in the county.
Those include 594 homes for $33.1 million, 46 businesses for $5.2 million and six economic injury loans for $338,800.
The SBA loan application deadline is Dec. 17.
Source: The Star
