The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Tuesday, April 26th to consider a second amendment to the agreement between the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and Hernando County to address the need for a revised budget and extended contract period due to unavoidable delays encountered by SWFWMD in finalizing design plans and procuring a construction contractor.
The project, titled “Rogers Park Low Impact Development Implementation Project” (P704) will redesign the parking lot at Rogers park to prevent stormwater runoff into the Weeki Wachee river. The current project agreement provides for design and engineering services, and construction management. The Cooperative Funding Initiative provides an opportunity to leverage county tax dollars and to ensure that SWFWMD ad valorem taxation is returned to Hernando County.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District originally estimated construction costs at $350,000, with the County’s share being $175,000. The District now estimates the project will cost $525,000 and the County’s share will be $262,500. The revised total is still less than the initial allocation of $350,000 that was approved by the BOCC on September 10, 2013.
Budget amendment also realigns funding for improvements constructed at the Emerson Road drainage ditch to eliminate blockage. This part of the project was originally approved during the September 2013 meeting.
According to Commissioner Wayne Dukes the project was supposed to be completed last winter, but there was difficulty in getting permits. Rather than close the park, this 90 day project will be delayed until September. Parking fees during September through November 2016 were about $16,000. There is additional cost of $30,000 for delaying the project, however all commissioners agreed that closing down Rogers Park from May through July would be a terrible idea.
Funding for the amendments to the project is available within the Stormwater Management MSTU Fund by realigning funding from reserves to the Stormwater Improvements capital account. No tax increase will be necessary to begin this project in September.