The Big Flush
NBV Accepts County Bond Funds for Wastewater Facility

“Being in the consortium could mean lower prices.”

By Randy Abraham

The North Bay Village City Commission unanimously agreed to accept $762,000 in proceeds from the county’s 2004 General Obligation Bond to fund a recently completed wastewater main station, during Tuesday’s meeting.

The station was on the city’s wish list of projects to be funded by the county’s general obligation bond, said City Manager Jorge Forte. “The city requested it,” he said.

The project was completed in September by a private contractor hired by the city, said Assistant City Manager Bob Pushkin. Workers replaced the first 800 feet of a 12-inch wastewater main that leads to a pumping station at 71st Street and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, and then on to the county’s wastewater treatment facility in Virginia Key. Pushkin said in contrast to the old pipe, which was made of ductile iron, the new pipe is a type of plastic that resists corrosion. “We recently did a sonic scoping of the first 800 feet of that line because over the past several years we have had continuing problems with it,” he said, adding that the new pipe is at least 38 feet underground.

City officials in other business discussed plans to bury utility lines. In September, North Bay Village voters approved a referendum that would allow city officials to issue a bond of up to $9 million to fund the undergrounding of utility lines, a measure enacted after many residences were without power for an extended period of time in the wake of 2005’s Hurricane Wilma. The project, which has not been designed yet, would require property owners to pay to have the new buried lines connected to their own homes and businesses, said Forte.

Forte noted that recent estimates are coming in at $8 million to $9 million, and that Harbor Island would be a good place to begin the project since it is smaller and has a higher proportion of multifamily complexes. Commissioner Paul Vogel said a Town Hall meeting would help to obtain residents’ input on the project. Mayor Joe Geller also discussed an offer by Florida Power & Light to join a consortium of cities as a means of reducing costs.

“Being in the consortium could mean lower prices,” said Geller. He added that no Miami-Dade County municipalities have joined the consortium yet.

Forte will meet soon with utility companies to obtain initial cost estimates and other details of burying the lines, he said. He wants to see if outside funding is available. “There may be grants or federal or state funding available,” said Forte. “We have to move on our due diligence and we need good numbers to do that.”

Developers of new construction are burying their utility lines, said Forte, which is much easier than retrofitting existing construction.

The mayor and commissioners also discussed the need to boost ridership on the city’s free bus service. Although the city bus is down for repairs, a city code enforcement vehicle has been transporting residents to locations in the city. Forte said he has approached the publishers of the city-oriented Reflections magazine as part of an effort to raise awareness of the free service.

Freshman Commissioner Reinaldo Trujillo discussed his idea for a welcome committee, which commissioners agreed to create. The idea is to have residents welcome newcomers to the city and educate them on city programs and activities. Geller, however, suggested the group not be called a committee and that it be staffed by volunteers so they could meet without falling under the requirements of the state’s Sunshine Law, which prohibits government officials from discussing or conducting city business behind closed doors. Geller suggested volunteer members undergo a background check and receive training by city staff.

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