BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Bradford and Starke commissioners have signed a memorandum of understanding that will allow the city to begin drawing upon $4 million in funding as it extends utilities down State Road 16.
Bradford commissioners allocated millions of American Rescue Plan Act funding so the city could provide water and wastewater service to a future mixed-use development at the bypass interchange. The MOU places the commitment in writing for the first time and provides the city access to those funds as the project progresses.
Curious about the status of the project, Bradford commissioners were provided an update last week. Justin deMello, a vice president and engineer at Woodward and Curran, detailed the history of the city’s multiple infrastructure improvement and expansion projects.
This included Starke’s 2023 commitment to complete the design of the second phase of improvements to its wastewater collection system, which included repairs throughout the city as well as upgrading the Saratoga Heights and Andrews Street lift stations. Woodward and Curran helped schedule funding for the estimated $5 million project.
DeMello said these improvements, along with the USDA funded multimillion reconstruction of the city’s wastewater treatment plant, which is nearing completion, were critical foundational elements for the expansion of wastewater service to future customers.
At the same time, the city committed to find funding to design a drinking water facility plan that included phases to upgrade both water treatment plants, system pressure and stabilization, and metering. The plan called for a new elevated water tower as well as line extensions to increase storage capacity and improve water pressure. The cost estimate was $14 million, but deMello said substantial improvements to the existing infrastructure would also support future growth.
In addition to the $4 million in ARPA funds committed by the county in 2023, the county and city jointly requested and secured legislative funding for the S.R. 16 utility extension, citing the negative economic impact of the state bypassing Starke. DeMello acknowledged, however, that the bypass interchanges provide new economic opportunities if there are utilities there to support that growth.
The goal is to provide water and sewer lines to every bypass interchange, he said. The S.R. 16 corridor was chosen first because of the planned improvements such as the new water tower and main extensions.
“It made sense that that would be the first leg, because the city was already making a substantial investment in the water system getting out to that area,” he said.
Summarizing the status and path forward, the design of the phase two sewer system and the drinking water system improvements should be complete by July. The first is funded with a legislative appropriation and the second with a State Revolving Fund loan with principal forgiveness. Starke will begin drawing upon the county’s ARPA funds for the planning and design of the S.R. 16 expansion, which should be complete by August.
“The next step is to obviously move forward with this planning document for extending sewer line utilities out that corridor on 16, but the goal would be to provide several options as well as cost estimates with respect to getting those utilities out there,” deMello said. “We do feel like that design can be done in conjunction with the water design, because we’ve already done survey, we’ve already done geo tech. A lot of the foundational elements of extending utilities has already been completed. So, we are hopeful that by this summer, July-August time frame, we could be complete with the sewer design as well.”
Once the plans are complete, construction can begin on the water and wastewater system improvements using SRF funding, with completion scheduled by December 2026. The S.R. 16 extension could be complete by the end of 2026, continuing with funding from county’s ARPA dollars.
Woodward and Curran and the city are actively seeking additional funding from legislative appropriations, climate resiliency and hurricane impact appropriations.
“The only thing that I’ll continue to mention is the city’s made some substantial investments in this. Their $14 million commitment into the water system, $5 million upgrading the sewer collection system, $25 million to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant. The city’s making some very substantial infrastructure improvements over the last five years, and certainly the next few scheduled. So, this is very important project for the city, and [we] always appreciate the county’s support and willingness to jump in,” deMello said.
Appreciation was expressed on both sides for the partnership. Commissioner Diane Andrews said it was wonderful seeing everything that was happening in the city.
“I am glad that we could be a part of this. As I said, yes, it is the city of Starke and we are Bradford County, but we are all Bradford County, and I want to ensure that we continue working together,” she said.
Mayor Andy Redding agreed.
“As you said, a lot of this with the infrastructure is unseen by our citizens, but when they receive those services and they receive the benefit of the growth, we all do better,” he said.
Starke Chief Administrative Officer Jimmy Crosby said they are proving what can happen when the city, county and state work together.
“In Tallahassee they’ve been impressed with the fact that the county and city have worked so well together on this particular project, and I think it’s going to set the stage for future growth, particularly what the Florida Senate this year is calling a Rural County Renaissance. There’s quite a bit of money being put aside if it passes through for greater economic development in rural counties in Florida. So, I think we hit it at the right time, and I think we just need to keep this momentum moving forward while Tallahassee is listening to these types of plans,” Crosby said.
