Town Clerk Valerie Oakes swears in Vice Mayor Bill Weitz, who beat incumbent Ron Brown.
Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Rich Pollack
Following overwhelming support from voters, two major Highland Beach water projects can now move forward, but it may be a year or so before actual replacement of aging water mains and installation of a system to improve aesthetic water quality and volume begins.
Nearly 72 percent of voters gave town leaders a green light to go forward with the two projects, which includes replacement of 6,700 feet of water mains serving the town’s side streets. The mains that will be replaced were installed in the late 1940s and are near the end of their life expectancy, according to town officials.
The vote also clears the way for the town to move forward with the installation of a lime slurry/carbon dioxide system at Highland Beach’s water treatment plant, which would improve the aesthetic quality of the water.
But before any construction can take place, town officials will be going through the processes of getting state and local approvals for the projects as well as hiring an engineering firm to draw up plans. After plans are completed, a contractor will be selected.
At the same time, the town will work with state officials to arrange low-interest financing through the State Revolving Fund, which provides low-interest loans to municipalities for similar projects.
While the exact cost of the project won’t be known until engineering studies are completed and contracts are established, town officials estimate the price tag could be as high as $5 million.
The town plans to seek a 20-year, low-interest loan, likely to be below 2 percent. The loan would be repaid through ad valorem taxes, which are deductible from federal income taxes for residents.
Town officials estimate property owners would see an increase of about $15 per $100,000 of assessed property value in their tax bills to cover the cost of the project.
The first steps in getting the project moving, according to Highland Beach Public Works director Ed Soper, is to begin a search for a qualified engineering firm to work on the design of the projects and develop specifications.
Once that’s done, Soper said, the town will be able to begin the process of hiring a contractor to do the work.
“I think it will be about a year before there’s a shovel in the ground,” he said.
Soper added that it could take another six to eight months of construction before the projects are completed but said that the pipe replacement would be done in phases – so some sections will be completed before others.
“Our focus will be on making sure the entire project is done right,” he said. “We’re not going to sacrifice quality for the sake of expediency."
Highland Beach Election Results
Vice Mayor/Commissioner
Percent Votes
Ron Brown 34.84% 285
Bill Weitz 65.16% 533
818
Ballot Question
Approval to expend funds for water infrastructure and water plant improvements.
May the Town proceed with water infrastructure improvements consisting of replacing water mains and associated equipment and the installation of a lime slurry/carbon dioxide system at the water treatment plant; and may the Town levy and pledge ad valorem (property) taxes in an amount not to exceed five million dollars with repayment over the life of a 20 year low interest loan?
Yes 71.85% 582
No2 8.15% 228
810
Source: Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections
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