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Port Richey City Council flips, okays reclaimed water deal

 
The council’s  Nancy Britton changed her vote, clearing the way to obtain state funds.
The council’s Nancy Britton changed her vote, clearing the way to obtain state funds.
Published March 23, 2016

PORT RICHEY — City Council member Nancy Britton reversed her vote this week, paving the way for the city to obtain state dollars to build a reclaimed water system in Port Richey.

During a City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Britton said she had changed her mind after obtaining more information from the Southwest Florida Water Management District regarding a matching grant to build more than 11,000 feet of pipe to connect the city to New Port Richey's reclaimed water transmission line.

Two weeks earlier, Britton joined the majority in a 3-2 vote to reject the grant agreement, saying she needed more information. She did not elaborate Tuesday on what information changed her mind, but said she thinks the reclaimed water project will be crucial to easing pressure on the city's already taxed wells.

"We may not be able to have these wells continue if we are drawing from them constantly," she said.

The agreement stipulates that the water district will split the estimated $459,374 cost with Port Richey, with the city paying $229,687. The plan is to run the pipe from the New Port Richey transmission line across U.S. 19 from Grand Boulevard to Port Richey's Waterfront Park. The pipeline would then extend north along Old Post Road to Bay Boulevard and west to Sand Pebble and Harborpointe.

Mayor Dale Massad and council member Terry Rowe maintained their opposition, but came up on the short end of the 3-2 vote Tuesday.

Massad railed on the cost projection, saying he didn't think $459,000 is sufficient, and he said the agreement provides no details on how much it will cost residents to hook up to the reclaimed water pipe. He also questioned entering into an agreement without knowing how many residents want to connect.

"We have no information, none," Massad said.

The mayor added he would refuse to sign the agreement, vowing to leave it for Vice Mayor Bill Colombo's signature.

Meanwhile, the council hashed out how to address the resignation last week of City Manager Tom O'Neill, whose last day is set for April 28. The council opted to nominate an interim manager after an upcoming April 12 election during which two seats are up for grabs. Once the new council is seated on April 26, the plan is to make an appointment.

The council nominated for consideration former Port Richey city attorney and interim city manager Jim Mathieu, former Port Richey interim police chief James Gabbard, former city manager Jerry Calhoun and Assistant City Manager Jocelyn Martinez.