Monday, August 27, 2007

County Paying $23,057,500 for Signage at Airport and $2.2 Billion for Toilet Water Treatment. by Geniusofdespair

According to resolution No. 072116, on the Sept. 4th Agenda, we will be paying for a maximum contract amount of $23,057,500 for signs at the Miami Money Pit (airport). Anyone besides me think that is a bit pricey for Airport signage?

Of course, even more expensive, we have the $2.2 billion dollars for getting rid of our toilet water abd reclaiming it for other uses -- According to the County Manager's background report for Resolution 072024:

"On July 22, 2003, the Board adopted Resolution R-811-03 approving and adopting the 2003 Wastewater Facilities Master Plan Including Interim Peak Flow Management Plan (2003 PLAN) with an estimated capital cost of $2.2 billion, to meet the wastewater demands to the year 2020. The 2003 PLAN was submitted to the FDEP for approval to qualify for SRF. The FDEP did not approve the 2003 PLAN because it did not include an evaluation of reuse as part of the wastewater disposal options, as such, MDWASD hired a consultant to conduct a reuse feasibility study, and in April 2007, an updated Reuse Feasibility Study was completed. The Reuse Feasibility Study’s recommended alternative has been incorporated into the 2007 PLAN which contains the necessary capital projects to meet the County’s wastewater demands to the year 2025. These capital projects include reclaimed water projects at the existing North, Central, and South District Wastewater Treatment Plants; and at a new West District Water Reclamation Plant. These projects are also part of the County’s alternative water supply plan and have been developed in order to obtain a 20-year consumptive use permit from the South Florida Water Management District. The proposed West District Water Reclamation Plant will be located in the vicinity of the Bird Drive Basin, which is consistent with the West Miami-Dade Reuse Project included in CERP. The 2007 PLAN also includes updated average and peak flow demand projections based on more recent population projections and actual peak flow conditions and extended the planning period to the year 2025.

An approved Wastewater Facilities Master Plan is the first step in obtaining approval for SRF low-interest loans from the FDEP. FDEP has verbally committed $100 million for the high level disinfection projects, which are included in the 2007 PLAN, to construct a 285 millions gallon per day facility at the South District Wastewater Treatment Plant. The 2007 PLAN has been prepared in accordance with the guidelines established by the State of Florida to qualify for the SRF Program."

And, people, an approved Wastewater Facilities Master Plan will also move development forward again, which has been stopped temporarily by the State of Florida because of our "shitty" wastewater policies! (You can take that both ways).

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Genius

Once again, you disappoint me.

The only "we" that will pay for the airport signage are the people who fly out of MIA. Everything at the airport is funded through fees charged to, and by, the airlines. THERE ARE NO TAX DOLLARS SPENT ON ANYTHING AT THE AIRPORT. And if you think it's so much cheaper at Ft. Lauderdale, wait until they are full swing into their airport expansion, and need to jack up all the fees they charge.

As for Water & Sewer, I would think that someone who claims to care about the environment, and the effects of growth on it, you would appreciate a plan to use more "reclaimed" water for industrial and irrigation purposes. Currently Miami-Dade reclaims less than 4% of the non-potable water. So now that the County is trying to be better stewards of our water supply, you are complaining.

Jesus man (or waman, I really don't know) cut the frickin County a Break when they actually move towards doing something good.

By the way, Water & Sewer is also an agency that derives all their money from fees charged for services, not property taxes, and our fees are among the lowest in the country.

Geniusofdespair said...

Do you think I am happy water fees are low...? No. We should pay the real cost of water. The county is keeping the fees artificially low.

I am a proponent of reuse but I am a realist and know why the county is doing it. Growth has been cut off. Until our economy is not based on growth, I will not be happy about much. This is a cranky blog, don't read it if you don't want to hear me be cranky.

And, the airport will pay for itself when pigs can fly.

Geniusofdespair said...

and again: You are not a moderate.

Anonymous said...

Keep on keeping on genius. Love cranky-ness. Oh, and the other thing... the fact that you're right! Love that too!

Anonymous said...

The issue with county hall is, they often ONLY do the right thing:

1. When they HAVE no other choice

2. Then they end up doing it years after it was first suggested, using more a expensive budget because of rising costs.