Okaloosa County BOCC — November 17, 2015 — 2016 Project List Priorities — reading text

Potential Project Funding Opportunities – 2016 Public Works 1. PJ Adams Parkway Widening: We have funds to design and acquire right-of-way from SR 85 to the Interstate, but only a small portion is funded for construction. We need to continue that support to complete the first leg of the project. Accompanying that is the continued development of the interchange between Antioch Road/PJ Adams Parkway with Interstate 10. 2. Crestview Courthouse: $5 Million legislative appropriation sought: Support funding for the restoration, rehabilitation and expansion of the historic Crestview Courthouse. Total project cost estimated at $22 million. 3. Continued State Regulatory Cooperation: Nearly all of our projects require some sort of state level permit; FDEP and FDOT permits are the most common and it is important that the recent cooperative work attitude be maintained. In the past agencies have been difficult to work with (they throw out roadblocks versus assists), of late they have by and large been more cooperative and understanding of the intent of the rules. I have seen a recent swing back to a more regulated, cut-and-dry approach and I think it would be good to encourage the cooperative nature we have experienced in recent years. Water & Sewer 1. Supplemental Reclaimed Water Project, $8M project, already received $3M; need $5M  Project consists of constructing infrastructure to transmit up to 4 million gallons per day of reclaimed water from Okaloosa County Water & Sewer’s wastewater plant in Ft. Walton Beach to the City of Niceville and Eglin Air Force Base to use for irrigation. Project will also increase the County’s effluent disposal capacity. Proposed infrastructure consists of approximately 10 miles of 20” pipe, 1 mile of 12” pipe, and equipment at the Arbennie Pritchett Water Reclamation Facility. The Eglin Community Partnership Program ranks this as one of the top projects in NW Florida, as evidenced by a Memo of Understanding that was executed by Eglin AFB (General Harris), the County, and the City of Niceville. In addition, the state categorizes reclaimed water as Alternate Water Supply projects. This project meets both immediate and long-term needs by re- using an available resource to keep our potable water supply and environment sustainable. A $3M state appropriation was received from this past funding cycle. This funding will allow to get the project shovel ready (design, permitting, easement, and environmental), pay for construction of the necessary plant facilities, and pay for a portion of the pipeline. We hope to obtain appropriations/grants incrementally to complete the construction. 2. Land Application of Septage, $1M   A major dilemma is brewing with regards to Florida Administrative Code Chapter 64E-6.010. Land application of raw septage has been permitted for decades in northwest Florida, specifically in the northern portions of Okaloosa County. Contractors are currently allowed to pump out septic tanks and grease traps and dispose of it at Department of Health-approved land application sites. In recent legislative sessions, a bill was passed that prohibits land application of raw septage beginning 7/1/2016. This date is fast approaching and there are no apparent feasible solutions in mind. Our department doesn’t necessarily have a stance whether this past bill was good or bad; the problem is that it is an unfunded mandate, as we don’t have the facilities that can handle it. If this is going to happen, funding absolutely needs to be made available to make it happen. We currently have a septage receiving station at the Arbennie Pritchett Water Reclamation Facility, but it is only capable of handling septage from a limited amount of port-a-potty companies. If large quantities of raw septage from septic tanks and grease traps that is currently being land applied is expected to be brought to OCWS after 7/1/2016 (because land application sites are no longer allowed), funding needs to be made available ASAP so we can design and construct additional septage receiving facilities capable of handling the quality and quantity. Facilities could easily cost $1M or more. 3. Lake Pippin Sanitary Sewer Improvements, $4M project, already received $2M, need $2M  The Lake Pippin Area consists of 125 single-family homes directly on the north shore of Choctawhatchee Bay. Currently, these homes are on septic tanks with drain fields that discharge into the watershed of Lake Pippin and Choctawhatchee Bay. This project, estimated at $4M, would design and install public sewer to the 125 homes by upgrading backbone infrastructure and installing new mains, lift stations, and services. The estimate also includes payment of the Capacity Expansion Charges, land acquisition, and installation of plumbing from homes to the services in the public right-of-way. The project improves the environment in terms of water quality – instead of septic tank effluent discharging into the Lake Pippin/Choctawhatchee Bay watershed, where wildlife lives and the public enjoys recreation, it would be centrally collected and transmitted to our state-of-the-art Arbennie Pritchett Water Reclamation Facility for treatment and disposal. During the 2014 legislative session, we received a state appropriation of $2M, administered via a FDEP Grant Agreement. Therefore, another $2M is needed to complete the project. 4. Bob Sikes Industrial Park Lift Station & Force Main Upgrade, $0.9M project  Replacing and upgrade this infrastructure would better posture the Bob Sikes Industrial Park (BSIP) for future growth. There is currently a small lift station & force main that collects and transmit takes everything west of the runway. For the area west of the airport to develop (Adora Teal & John Givens), this lift station & force main really need to be larger. 5. Bob Sikes Water Reclamation Facility Effluent Disposal Expansion, $1.5M project  Expand effluent disposal capacity from 0.38 MGD to 1.117 MGD to match that of the WWTP, better posturing for growth at the BSIP & other areas of unincorporated Crestview, such as Hwy 90 East (Shoal River Ranch area) or areas north of Airport Road 6. Hwy 90 East Water & Sewer Main Extensions (to Shoal River Ranch Area Industrial Park), $2.1M project  These water/sewer line extensions would possibly help to spur economic growth to Hwy 90 East. Estimate is for main extensions to the intersection of Hwy 90 & Jericho Rd.