The Loxahatchee Groves Water Control District Board of Supervisors approved its preliminary 2016 budget on Monday. The budget includes financing for a utility vehicle with chemical tanks for aquatic vegetation control and the extension of water mains for a fire sprinkler system at the district office.
No assessment increases will be necessary for the improvements, according to LGWCD Administrator Steve Yohe. The total budget is almost $1.6 million, which includes $642,000 for staff salaries, $104,100 for professional services, $100,500 for equipment leases and $305,514 for capital loan payments.
Yohe said the staff will have the next draft of the budget ready by June 15.
“I do anticipate that there will be some discussion at our special meeting following the landowners meeting on June 22,” he said, explaining that the budget presented at Monday’s meeting was to get board consensus and give direction to staff. “I would recommend also that each of you individually contact me if you have any questions.”
Supervisor John Ryan said that it was very helpful last year that Yohe had set aside time to speak to each supervisor about the budget.
Ryan also asked about a letter that had been sent to the town regarding renewing its agreement to share gas tax money for road maintenance of unpaved road segments that haven’t yet been turned over to the town.
Yohe said the district had asked for the $150,000 that the town had granted last year, but the town reduced that amount to $93,738, based on the reduction in the amount of roads to be maintained due to paving with open-graded emulsified mix (OGEM), which Yohe said was a logical reduction.
Supervisor Don Widing asked about employee benefits, and Yohe said the budget includes a 4 percent across-the-board raise for employees, as well as a possible 5 percent increase in the cost of benefits.
Supervisor Frank Schiola asked when they have to submit information to the Palm Beach County Tax Collector’s Office, and LGWCD attorney Mary Viator said the truth in millage (TRIM) rates must be submitted by July 15, and the final certification is due Sept. 15.
In his administrator’s report, Yohe noted that the survey maintenance maps to provide easements for equestrian trails had been approved by the town in an interlocal agreement after a joint meeting last month.
“We’ve had a proposal from Erdman Anthony for some time, and so we met with Erdman Anthony on May 29 in preparation for the implementation of maintenance maps for all canal maintenance berms and the balance of the district roads,” Yohe said, explaining that LGWCD Chairman Dave DeMarois had already signed the previous agreement but that Viator thought it was appropriate for the board to review it again.
Yohe added that Erdman Anthony had completed much of the field work but not the office work, and would be providing weekly reports on its progress.
Supervisor Robert Snowball made a motion to approve the agreement with Erdman Anthony, which carried 5-0.
Yohe also reported that his staff had issued a purchase order on May 18 of $4,300 for an 11-foot by 20-foot aluminum shed from Red Barn, including permitting, delivery and setup, for a district supervisor field office.
“In permitting this with the town, it came to our attention that it has a setback of 50 feet on all sides with the exception of the front, which has 100 feet for this type of use,” Yohe said, explaining that the district will go through a special exception process if necessary.
