Bowdoin Grey Hutchinson

The board meetings covered a variety of financial and operational business, including budget requests for utility projects such as marina renovations, hangar maintenance, CNG station expansion, and the purchase of IT equipment and software. The board reviewed electric reliability statistics, power cost adjustments, and awarded bids for LED luminaires. Additionally, presentations were made regarding an employee compensation plan, connectivity and security projects, and updates on ongoing water and wastewater infrastructure expansion and replacement efforts.

The agenda and minutes cover a variety of operational and administrative topics for the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority. Key items include the approval of several contract amendments and awards, such as agreements for mutual aid assistance after Hurricane Irma, hydrogen sulfide odor control, electric vault replacement, and water and wastewater plumbing repairs. Discussions also touched on the purchase of new utility vehicles, updates on regulatory compliance (specifically CIP Standards), and a presentation on the Guaranteed Revenue Charges and the capacity reduction option. The Board reviewed financial results, electric rate comparisons, and received a report regarding the Electric Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) and future projections. A special appeal was made by a city commissioner regarding potential economic development investments in the city port, and updates were provided on the FPL/Vero Beach sale negotiations and streetlight repair efforts.

The board discussed and approved several initiatives, including a Memorandum of Understanding for the Smart Neighborhood Initiative to provide high-speed connectivity in the Lincoln Park community, and the purchase of padmounted transformers through the Florida Municipal Power Agency Joint Purchasing Project. The board approved various infrastructure projects, such as sewer main rehabilitation, utility relocations for the Kings Highway roadway project, and engineering design services for breaker replacements. Additionally, the board adopted the annual budget for the upcoming fiscal year, encompassing both operation and maintenance costs and capital improvement plans. Certain items, including specific consent agenda explanations, were tabled for discussion at a future meeting.

The board addressed several agenda items, including the approval of appointments and piggyback contracts for electrical and sewer services. Significant discussion took place regarding electric disconnect updates, including COVID-19 relief efforts and the resumption of normal operations. The meeting also included an update on wastewater river discharge incidents from October, a discussion on electronic payment processing fees, and an increase to the communications infrastructure contract. Additionally, the board reviewed municipal electric rate comparisons and considered adjustments to the power cost adjustment. Public hearings were held to adopt rate resolutions for water, wastewater, and natural gas services.

The meeting involved setting the agenda followed by actions taken under the Consent Agenda. Key items approved included a Blanket Purchase Order for Flexsnap Cable for system expansion with Graybar Electric Company, Inc., the purchase of servers for the Security Camera Project from Dell Marketing Corporation, and budget approvals for the Treasure Cove PUD project and the Kings Landing - Electric Re-route Project. Additionally, approval was granted for a Contract for Bio-Hazard Remediation Services with FL Todd Holding Co LLC dba Florida Emergency Cleaning, a Small Utility Enterprise Agreement with Environmental Systems Research Institute Incorporated (ESRI), renewal amendments for the ArcFM Small Utility Enterprise License with Telvent USA, LLC, and the renewal of Automated Utility Design and Utility Datahub licenses with Spatial Business Systems, Inc. During the Regular Agenda, following a public hearing, the Board adopted Resolution UA 2026-04 concerning Water Rates, implementing a 2.23% increase based on the 2025 Florida Public Service Commission Annual Price Index, and adopted Resolution UA 2026-05 concerning Wastewater Rates, also implementing a 2.23% increase.