Winter Garden moves forward with wastewater facility expansion

The Winter Garden City Commission on Thursday, Feb. 22, approved several items pertaining to the expansion of the Crest Avenue Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The plans for the expansion were first brought by staff before the commission Thursday, Feb. 8. Read the full report on the expansion here.

Staff said there is need for the expansion of the facility because the city’s population has increased 36% since 2010. According to data, staff expects the city will exceed the current permitting capacity of 4.75 million of gallons per day annual average daily flow by 2030. Staff is proposing the city expand the facility to 7.5 millions of gallons per day.

The estimated total cost for the project, as of the 30% design phase in March 2023, would range from about $94,950,834 to $113,616,704.

At the recent commission meeting, officials approved two resolutions relating to the expansion.

Under federal tax laws, if the city uses any of its own funds to pay for some of the costs of a project — which is to be ultimately financed with proceeds of tax-exempt debt — the city must adopt an “official intent” resolution to preserve its ability to “reimburse” itself for the funds it expended for the project. 

By adopting the first resolution, the city will preserve its ability to reimburse the utilities fund if it uses some of its own money to pay for costs prior to the issuance of debt. 

Staff said the city will start purchasing some of the items for the project prior to the issuance of debt.

The second resolution authorizes the city manager to apply, execute if approved and pledge water and sewer system revenues for a State Revolving Fund loan in the amount of $5,873,757. The loan is for the construction, equipment, materials, demolition and related procurement for the membrane system supplier, which is the first guaranteed max price package for the expansion.

The other regular business items approved in regards to the expansion are the hiring of Carollo Engineering to provide a utility bond report in the amount of $77,024, the hiring of Raftelis to provide a water and wastewater rate study and financial feasibility report in the amount of $152,950, and awarding a purchase order to Wharton Smith for GMP 1 for the purchase of membrane equipment for the WWTF upgrades in the amount of $5,107,615.