Steve Koontz submits resignation letter to Oakland

Steve Koontz, the town manager for Oakland, has submitted his resignation letter, and his last day will be April 1. He cited personal priorities as his reason for leaving.

The letter was included in the consent agenda at the Feb. 14 Town Commission meeting.

In a letter to the Town Commission dated Jan. 31, he wrote: “It has been an honor to serve the Town of Oakland since November 2017 as both the town manager and assistant town manager. During this time, we have successfully managed tremendous growth while reducing the millage rate, implementing a wastewater system with over 600 residential customers, and improving the Oakland Avenue intersection with a roundabout at Old Highway 50.

“Together we have completed the Healthy West Orange Arts and Heritage Center that serves as an anchor to highlight the uniqueness of the town, rebranded a new logo that will promote the town's identity, and hosted top-notch events that have increasingly engaged the town's residents year after year,” Koontz wrote.

“I'd be remiss without mentioning the enhancements to the charter school, police department and nature preserve, which all serve as cornerstones to the town's character,” he wrote. “I am proud of the leadership team and staff in all their contributions and hard work with our achievements.

“I am grateful for the privilege of being a part of the Town of Oakland's rich history and having the support of a caring and dedicated commission in their service to the residents of the town. I wish the commission and this community the best of success going forward.”

Koontz recommended the approval of expenses of up to $35,000 for executive recruitment for the position. The town is hiring a firm that specializes in recruiting executives for roles in a governmental environment. Koontz will work with the assistant town manager and department directors to ensure a smooth transition.

JOHNS LAKE OUTFALL CANAL UPDATE

Koontz gave an update on the Johns Lake outfall canal and its many issues, including the increasing amount of silt settling in Lake Apopka where it backs up to several residences. He said Orange County and the St. Johns River Water Management District are the heavy hitters.

Since the Jan. 24 commission meeting, Koontz has held meetings with county officials, including District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson, and affected residents.

“We’ve talked about the amount of erosion that’s happening in the canal going back to 2017 and Hurricane Irma,” Koontz said. “The last two years have been very wet years. Two major storms coming through, Irma and Ian, and then 2020 was a very wet year, so the amount of water that’s been going into Johns Lake and going into that canal have been at very high levels.

“There are issues along Winters Landing adjacent to the canal,” Koontz added. “They’ve got two different stormwater ponds — that have nothing to do with Oakland Park — that the sides are eroding. …There’s a lot going on with the canal and a lot of erosion going on.”

Koontz also met with Joe Dunn, board member and former president of Friends of Lake Apopka.

“They were very receptive and … I think it was a very good discussion,” Koontz said. “They’re looking at other Florida management issues. … After Hurricane Ian, they’re doing a lot of studies on closed basins, and this is a closed basin.”

The Oakland Town Commission tasked Koontz with obtaining quotes for having the canal straightened. This would cost about $115,000.

“The good news is we’re gaining traction now,” Commissioner Mike Satterfield said. “People are listening to us now. But it took a major problem for someone to listen to us.”

“I’ve been working on this issue for 10 years,” said John Schmidt, past president of the Johns Lake Homeowners Association. “I think rerouting will help and go a long way, but it’s not going to solve it.”

“We got about 6 to 8 inches from Hurricane Ian within Oakland and within a majority of this basin,” Koontz said. “There were areas that got 18 inches of rain in East Orange County. If we got those 18 inches within the 16,000 acres, Johns Lake would probably be over 99 feet and we wouldn’t be talking about water over the docks, we would be talking about houses where people couldn’t live there anymore … as well as drain fields and septic systems.

“The sense of urgency is there,” he said. “We need to reroute; that will minimize further damage to the west. And then the entirety of the canal needs to be looked at … from stabilization to maintenance, all the way down, so it will operate as best as can be expected.”

Koontz said SJRWMD is discussing two permits — one to straighten the canal and another for silt removal. He added that the district also will require Oakland Park to get involved as well.

The canal discussion will continue at the Feb. 28 meeting.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

• Commissioners adopted a resolution that imposes a revised residential solid waste collection and recycling service charge of $17.45 per customer per month. This marks a 50-cent increase in the residential rate. This amount covers the $17 cost from the service provider and includes an additional 45 cents to cover the town’s administrative overhead costs. The search for a new provider will begin by July 1, 2024; the contract ends January 2025.

“I know people get frustrated sometimes with the speed, or you don’t get it collected the day you’re supposed to,” Mayor Kathy Stark said. “The (solid waste) committee looked at our options a few years ago, and it was not economic to move off the contract at this time. Our fees would have gone way, way up with anyone we would be using. So, the committee made a recommendation that we stay with the current contract we have until it expires. … While we’re going up, I just want people to understand we’re trying to maintain … and keep the service acceptable, but it’s not perfect and we try to work with that as much as we can.”

• The commission approved the consent agenda, which included an easement acceptance for Duke Energy to construct electric facilities on town-owned property along Catherine Ross Road. Typically, Duke Energy utilizes existing rights-of-way, but they do not yet exist so the facilities will be constructed over the town-owned properties that eventually will become the Catherine Ross right-of-way, Public Works director Mike Parker explained. The easement will be 10 feet wide and approximately 350 feet long.

• Koontz announced about 2,500 people attended the Jan. 28 Oakland Heritage Day.