PLACEMENT: Consent
TITLE:
title
INITIAL ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION FOR THE LAKE GROVE WATER MAIN MUNICIPAL SERVICE BENEFIT UNIT
end
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
Board action is requested to adopt the initial assessment resolution for the Lake Grove Water Main Municipal Service Benefit Unit to allow installation of water lines.
body
DEPARTMENT: Utilities and Solid Waste
PREPARED BY: Name: Phil Keathley
Title: Chief Project Manager
REQUESTED BY: Samuel Amerson, P.E., Utilities & Solid Waste Director
PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
The proposed project area is generally described as properties fronting SW Lake Grove Circle presently without availability of public water supply. There are 64 benefitting properties in the project area.
The final tally of all the ballots received in September 2025 as verified by the Martin County Supervisor of Elections office indicated 41 properties FOR the project and 16 AGAINST with 7 that did not respond, at an estimated upper range cost of $10,000 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERC).
A Florida Department of Environmental Protection Construction Permit has been received and competitive bids from underground utility contractors were opened on March 18, 2026 and Jamie Underground submitted the lowest responsive and responsible bid.
A staff level workshop will be held in June 2026, prior to the final public hearing, to explain the project scope, costs and the assessment process. All the 64 benefitting property owners will be mailed invitations to that workshop.
Based on the final design, the initial prepayment amount is $9,857.81 per equivalent residential connection (ERC) which is below the $10,000 cap established by a recently adopted BOCC policy. Amortizing the project over a 15-year period at a 3.90% interest rate will result in an estimated annual payment of $964.86 per ERC. The estimated annual payment also includes annual costs related to preparation and collection of the roll each year totaling 8.75% (consisting of 2% for the Tax Collector fee, 2.75% for the tax roll and legal consultants, and a 4% adjustment for early tax bill payments). This project will be financed through an internal loan from the Utilities/Solid Waste Consolidated Utilities Reserves. The annual payment will be included in the tax bill commencing with the bill mailed in October 2027. The proposed assessment will include 64 properties at 64 ERC’s. The Utilities Department is contributing $110,000 towards construction of the water mains to achieve the Board adopted goal of less than $10,000 per ERC.
A public hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2026. The notice for the hearing will be advertised in The Stuart News and upon adoption of the initial assessment resolution today, individual notices of the public hearing will be mailed to each property owner proposed to be assessed at the mailing address indicated on the tax roll.
ISSUES:
None
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
Chris Traber, the County’s Special Assessment Counsel, has prepared the resolution, reviewed the agenda item summary and confirmed that the form of each is proper.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
Move that the Board adopt the Initial Assessment Resolution to create the Lake Grove Water Main Municipal Service Benefit Unit.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Do not adopt the Initial Assessment Resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION
None, as the cost of the project will be paid for by the benefitted property owners of the Lake Grove Water Main Municipal Service Benefit Unit.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
☐Budget Transfer / Amendment ☐ Chair Letter ☐Contract / Agreement
☐Grant / Application ☐Notice ☐Ordinance ☒Resolution
☐Other: