Utility rates approved for first increase in nine years at August commission meeting

Graceville City Commission’s regular monthly meeting was held on Tuesday, August 8 in the City Commission Chambers at 6:00 PM. After opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Arthur Obar inquired about any modifications to the agenda. To begin, City Manager Michelle Watkins amended the agenda to include an additional item to award the construction for the Brown Street project. With a motion from Commissioner Marshall Davis seconded by Commissioner Walter Olds, the modification was unanimously approved.

First on the agenda, the city received three sealed opening bids for the surplus Police Department cars. Using the last four VIN numbers of each car for reference, Manager Watkins then read the bids to the Board of Commissioners. On the car with VIN # 3794, Chris Jones placed a bid for $150. On the car with VIN # 8861, Chris Jones made another bid for $200. On the car with VIN # 1900, Byron Laster placed a bid for $200. With a motion from Commissioner John McClendon, seconded by Commissioner Davis, the city unanimously approved to accept these bids for the surplus police cars.

Next on the agenda, Resolution 23-0808 addressed the Graceville Utility and Public Service Fee Schedule. Manager Watkins began with a discussion about the notification from Waste Management notifying the city of an additional rate increase to their service contract. Manager Watkins noted that though Waste Management issues an annual increase in contract fees each year according to a fuel increase clause, the City has not adjusted or increased garbage rates since October of 2013. Additionally, water and sewer operational cost have increased due to the increased cost of supplies such as pipes, fittings, chemicals, fuel, etc. Despite these increases, the city has not adjusted water and sewer rates since April of 2014. Considering the city has absorbed these cost increases and the current economic conditions, the staff proposed an increase in both residential and commercial rates. These rate increases will include a $3.00 increase for garbage, a $2.00 increase to the base rate (for the first 1500 gallons) of water with $0.25 for every additional 1000 gallons beyond the base amount, and a $2.00 base rate increase to sewer with a $0.20 increase per each additional 1000 gallons for both residential and commercial contracts. Manager Watkins went on to say that these changes will reflect a minimum of $7.00 on the monthly bills of Graceville residents. Though consumption is a factor, Watkins suggested an average increase of $8.00 for monthly residential bills and approximately $11.00 on monthly commercial bills. With a motion from Commissioner McClendon seconded by Commissioner Curtis Pinkard, the motion to increase these rates were approved unanimously.

The Consent Order was next on the agenda. Manager Watkins noted that Florida DEP has sited the Treatment plant through consent order for issues related to inflow and infiltration that goes beyond the City of Graceville’s permitted capacity. The staff has already taken some remedial actions to limit inflow and infiltration issues with significant reductions, explained Watkins. Manager Watkins went on to say that the filters funded through ARPA funds have been installed. The city is currently waiting on electrical components to get them in service. Watkins then noted that grant funding with a match from ARPA funds has been acquired to complete the replacement of effluent pipe with permitting and design currently underway. DEP will re-evaluate and remove the consent order status upon the completion of these projects and the above-mentioned inflow and infiltration work, explained Manager Watkins. Administration and legal have had in-depth conversations about the on-going inflow and infiltration issues. Watkins noted that supply chain obstacles have prolonged the completion of the resolutions for the sited issues mentioned, and all are working to “put this issue to bed.” With a motion from Commissioner Pinkard seconded by Commissioner Davis, the Board unanimously approved the acceptance and execution of due diligence for the consent order.

Rod Adams then took to the podium with an update on the construction of the Brown Street project. On July 25, bidding was opened for the construction on the Brown Street resurfacing project. Three contractors submitted bids in response. According to the tabulation, Southeast Construction out of Geneva, Alabama was the lowest bidder with a base amount of $825,760.75. “This is well below the DOT budget… of $1,026,000,” said Adams. The other two contractors were right on the DOT budget amount. Adams vouched for the professionalism of Southeast Construction, noting that though most have not heard of them, they have been operating “for a while” and their first paving job was in Marianna, Florida two years ago. They also did all the paving at the Dozier Boys School Campus, and the paving and widening on Highway 2, explained Adams.

Adams went on to mention a section of interest in front of Cook Discount Drugs, “that has a bunch of monitor wells… about a 140-foot stretch.” Originally, during the design phase, the City planned on working around this section. However, Adams suggested that the City issues a change order to rework the area, “now that we have somebody to work with.” Adams noted that the additional work to the monitor wells will cost about $50,000, and the road work for that stretch will be about $39,000. Making a change order with a total of approximately $90,000, that will have to be approved by DOT. With a motion from Commissioner Olds seconded by Commissioner Davis, construction on the Brown Street project was awarded to Southeast Construction in the amount of their base bid.

Manager Watkins then provided a quick grant update to the Board of City Commissioners. The rural infrastructure grant of $95,000 set to be used to address the inflow and infiltration issues is currently under permit right now, stated Watkins. Dewberry is working through the permit process right now and preliminary design work has begun.

Brown Street construction, engineering, and inspection proposal will be in and open on August 22, 2023, explained Watkins as she anticipates awarding these proposals in the next Regular City Commission Meeting in September.

Mill Creek paving is complete and the City Administration is working to finalize the paperwork to closeout.

As for the Cliff Street project, Watkins noted, “We are under contract with Alday-Howell for the design work, and I anticipate they will start next week.”

The Legislative Appropriation for Inflow and Infiltration in the amount of $1.2 Billion will run concurrently with the CBDG inflow and infiltration mitigation project, which is an additional $4.4 million dollars to go toward inflow and infiltration. “We will do these more or less as two separate projects” to expedite the operational process and make the paperwork side more efficient for the Legislative Appropriation to work through, explained Watkins.

The Fire Station project is working with Melvin Engineering on some preliminary design work.

“They have been working on some geotechnical stuff,” said Watkins.

The Wastewater Improvement project, in the amount of $6.3 million dollars, is under environmental review. The City is now waiting patiently on the review to be complete.

The citywide public water system updates project is set to receive proposals from the DEO required second set of advertisements for administration and engineering services on August 22, 2023.

Watkins also mentioned the City had received feedback on the site visit for the Splash Pad, but the final approval had not been received. Manager Watkins noted that the project is CBDG funded, and the process is one of patience.

The Manager’s Report followed. This year’s 40th Annual Harvest Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 21. It will take place across the street from the Civic Center on Highway 77 South. The event will feature live entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors, fun activities for the kids, and the area’s biggest car show with over 200 antique and classic rides on display. Live music will include gospel music performed by The Thompsons, bluegrass will be performed by Goat Hill String Band, Stafford Smith will bring in some soft rock and country, Jerome Jackson will be shaking his hips with an Elvis tribute, while Shane Owens will be performing some more good ole country. This year, the festival will also include the Harvest Hustle 5K run and the Harvest Festival Parade in downtown Graceville at 9:00 AM. Admission is always free! Anyone that is interested in becoming an event sponsor, securing vendor space, or participating in any of these events contact The City of Graceville administration or visit the website at gracevilleharvest.com for more information.

The next Regular Commission Meeting will be called to order on September 12 at 6:00 PM in the City Commission Chambers. Ethics Training will be held on August 24, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. A Budget Workshop is scheduled for August 31 at 5:30 PM. The final budget Hearing will be held on September 19 at 5:30 PM.

Code Enforcement was unable to attend the meeting to give an update.

During the Citizen Comments, two citizens voiced their concern over pedestrian safety, specifically dealing with leash law issues causing tension and proper driving etiquette. For more details you can view these comments on The Graceville News Facebook page.