Septic to sewer conversion and ARPA funds highlight N. Port workshop

NORTH PORT — The city of North Port should be able to complete the first phase of its plan to convert septic tanks to sewers by 2031 at an estimated cost of $28.5 million, city officials told the City Commission at a Monday workshop on the expansion of sewage and how to spend funds from the American rescue plan.

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That number is well below the $33.7 million city officials identified for potential funding, including $21.2 million in one-cent sales tax money yet to be won by Sarasota County voters in a referendum to be approved in November, and $12.5 million in utility revenue.

North Port Stormwater Manager Elizabeth Wong also told commissioners that preliminary data from the city’s water quality tests showed the North Port Canals and Myakahatchee Creek are contributing to pollution problems in Charlotte Harbor, the state’s second-largest estuary.

Wong explained how tracking sucralose — an artificial sweetener — showed none of the substance made its way into the watershed upstream from the city, and elevated levels emerged at six test sites.

Beforehand: The City of North Port has a water and sanitation improvement plan

“If we find sucralose, other contaminants are likely getting into the water,” Wong said, then adding that several other scientists are tracking sucralose, notably Brian LaPointe, a research scientist at Florida Atlantic University.

“There is no regulatory limit on sucralose,” she later added. “That’s an indicator.”

Assistant City Manager Jason Yarborough later added, “Sucralose is just the canary, it’s not what’s bad for the environment.”

At the beginning of the meeting, City Manager Jerome Fletcher briefed the Commission on projects funded with US bailout funds.

The city received $4.2 million in funding in June 2021 and was expected to receive an additional $4.2 million next month.

Last June, city commissioners focused on extending water and sewer lines to the intersections of Interstate 75 with Sumter and Toledo Blade Boulevards, the main recipients of ARPA funds, as an economic development study identified potential for new growth there.

The city provided $3.4 million for work on Toledo Blade Boulevard and $813,679.50 on Sumter Boulevard.

The city also received a $1.6 million Florida Job Growth Grant for the Toledo Blade work. That funding, combined with a low bid of just $2 million for the water and sewer lines, means they could have nearly $3.6 million in ARPA funding from the first federal disbursement, which will be used for other projects related to the project To be available.

Beforehand:North Port still plans to spend US Panacea water and sewage rescue plan funds

Other projects offered as options to the commission included providing $3.3 million to extend water and sewerage to the I-75 interchange at Sumter Boulevard. $2 million to build a government building in Wellen Park; $2 million to purchase 10 acres for three economic development sites and $570,000 to expand broadband line to Toledo Blade and Sumter Boulevards.

Vice Mayor Barbara Langdon asked if the city had already found a broadband provider elsewhere in the city. Although nothing has yet been secured, Yarborough noted that the city has scheduled a meeting to speak to Hotwire, the internet provider of choice for Wellen Park.

Mayor Pete Emrich raised the possibility of using ARPA funds to continue the rapid repair and replacement of the city’s aging water control structures.

Yarborough said that’s also a possibility.

Earle Kimel covers primarily South Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at [email protected]. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune.

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