Oakland commission split on canal costs

The town of Oakland contracted with a company in March — at a cost of close to $120,000 — to restore the historical northerly flow of water from the Johns Lake Outfall Canal into Lake Apopka and to reinforce the banks of the newly relocated canal with native vegetation. The contractor also agreed to remove sediment in and around two boat docks to the west of the canal.

The work was done, but within a few days, the remaining sediment migrated back in and settled into the recently dredged areas.

The Oakland Town Commission at its Nov. 14 meeting held a lengthy and contentious discussion before voting 3-2 to spend more money to try to permanently correct the problem. Mayor Kathy Stark and Commissioner Joseph McMullen voted against spending the money until more discussions were had.

Town Manager Andy Stewart provided an update on the project. He said the contractor, Solitude Lake Management, did make improvements to the canal and patched up a portion of the canal that was breached, but the company didn’t use the proper machine to permanently remove the sediment.

“To clarify the original scope of services, (Solitude) really just cleaned out an eight-foot section of sand in front of each of the docks to the north,” Stewart said. “None of that sand was really removed.”

“This is exactly what I’m talking about,” said Stark, who was vehemently against spending more money on the project. “The project hasn’t been buttoned up. … There are questions that haven’t been answered. We spent about $120,000 on a project that wasn’t buttoned up, and I’m not going to do that again. … I am very opposed to putting this town at risk by borrowing $120,000,”

She then read a prepared statement: “There is no one that wants to fix this canal more than me. I do believe that we do not have a good plan right now. It is not engineered, and we need a plan for the whole canal and our residents who live near it, including those on Johns Lake. When we put our budget together this year, we were clear that it would be a tight budget with no funds for extras. Borrowing money after we have spent over $100,000 already seems drastic, and we are really not at the point that we can make that decision in good conscience.”

Commissioner Rick Polland said, “If we don’t fix the canal, this could happen all over again.”

“But here we are again spending another $120,000,” Stark said.

“In my mind, this is the right thing to do to get the sediment removed,” Commissioner Mike Satterfield said.

Stewart said the town has about $1.2 million in reserves and spending $120,000 would mean spending about 8% of the town’s reserves.

“And that’s the money for a rainy day,” Stark said.

“In my mind, it is the right thing to do because we committed,” Satterfield said.

“Nobody wants this more than I do, but I think we’re premature in trying to pass this tonight in spending this amount of money,” Stark said.

Ward Britt, who is one of the lakefront residents affected by the canal runoff, said he has a mere six inches of water at his dock.

“If you were in this situation, you’d be more willing to spend the money,” Britt said. “I’ve lost $250,000 probably in (property) value.”

“I am trying to look after the whole town,” Stark said. “The whole town.”

The vote passed, and Sea Level Development LLC, of New Smyrna Beach, was hired to do the work, which will include dredging, marine excavation and reclamation.

The project should take less than 60 days to complete.

IN OTHER NEWS

• Oakland Town Commissioners accepted a resolution that establishes the easternmost border of the golf cart zone in the town and allows for a four-way stop at Oakland Avenue and Winters Landing Drive. According to Florida statute, golf carts cannot cross a county road unless it’s at a controlled intersection.

• Oakland Police Chief Darron Esan presented Officer Samaria Lake with the Officer of the Quarter award, which included a certificate and a guardian angel light that sits on her shoulder and lights up at night. Esan said she was chosen because she performs every task every day with a smile, teaches report writing to new recruits, offered to serve as the town’s code enforcement officer while the town looked to permanently fill the position, always looks for ways to improve herself as an officer, is a valuable part of the agency and exemplifies what it means to be a member of the Oakland Police Department.

• Commissioners approved the consent agenda, which included the following: a certification that engineering firms CPH LLC, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Bentley Group Inc. and Pegasus Engineering are prequalified to assist in the planning, technical and design needs of the town; and a vote to send a letter of opposition to the Florida Turnpike Enterprise for a future project that would entail FTE acquiring prime commercial property along the West Colonial Drive corridor for use as compensating storage in the Johns Lake floodplain.

• The commission approved a resolution that states the town recognizes a $200,000 transfer from the Utility Fund Budget to the General Fund a recommended by the town’s auditor. The budget amendment reduces the total revenues and expenditures from $10,537,098 to $10,021,586.

• The town passed a resolution that acknowledges the town owns 69 properties within its municipal limits. The Live Local Act was approved by the Florida Legislature and signed into law and requires all municipalities to prepare an inventory list of property that is appropriate for affordable housing. It was determined the town does not have land suitable for such houses.

‘While we do not have property for this for affordable housing, we have over the last 30 years done three (Community Development Block Grants), (rebuilt homes),” Mayor Kathy Stark said. “We’ve donated to Habitat for Humanity, Homes in Partnership. We’ve done a lot of things to help people stay in their homes and be able to afford them.”