Yesterday I had the privilege of touring the ECR Plant located on Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach adjacent to the Florida Turnpike. The tour was conducted by the Executive Director Joseph Carlini along with our own Walt Smyser at Lake Worth Utilities. Those attending the tour were Commissioners Jo-Ann Golden, Scott Maxwell and Christopher McVoy. Robert Waples of our Planning & Zoning Board attended along with myself.
When we first arrived, we were immediately taken to the employee kitchen and treated to oj, coffee, donuts and bagels with cream cheese. That was a nice surprise as I still was not functioning that well due to the late city commission meeting of the night before and literally had to drag myself out of bed to make it on time.
This treatment facility, built around 1973-4, is situated on 360 acres, manned by 53 employees round the clock 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The operating budget is $21 million. Mr. Carlini is paid by West Palm Beach and is the only employee who is non-union. The rest are either members of the SEIU or PMSA Unions. He introduced us to four of his top management team, Jackie Michels, Senior Project Engineer and a former employee of Mock Roos; Tim Martin, Plant Superintendent; Don Long, Plant Superintendent; and Anthony Armeli, Maintenance Supervisor.
Mr. Carlini comes from Largo, Florida and worked there for about 19 years. He knew our City Manager Stanton very well saying she did a lot of great things for the City of Largo.
The water that we waste, which is about 150 gallons per person per day, is treated at this plant. Each residence has a pipe that is connected to a network of underground pipes and pump stations which carries the wastewater to this facility. They then process it and remove the pollutants and junk. It is all disinfected before it is discharged.
At the end of the tour, I was convinced that there was no one alive with more expertise than Mr. Carlini. He was interesting, informative and a most cordial host. Waste is not something that we normally think about and it is truly an involved process. It made me wonder how in the heck did we all manage 100 years ago? We all learned a lot.
Did you ask them why Lake Worth is the only city in the state that is moving forward with an R.O. plant it doesn't need and can't afford?
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Stanton will finally take my advice and seek a consultant to run the city utilities?
ReplyDeleteI don't know who you are above but your charge that we can't afford an RO plant is based on? By going with the RO and getting out of the PB County contract, the City saved $3.5 million. And that IS a fact.
ReplyDeleteGreat article and work
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While not as savy on these matters as you are I'm going to say the fact that the "best commission ever" voted to increase water rates by 80% over the next 5 years to pay for the R.O. plant is a sign the city can't afford to pay for it. Where's your right wing anti tax and spend sentiment when you really need it?
ReplyDeleteSince you're big on facts please provide the facts on:
How much is the R.O. plant going to cost the city to run annually?
Will the cost to run the R.O. plant affect our utility rates in the future?
Will the plant produce enough water for the city?
How is the city to going sell water as you claim, if the plant won't produce enough water for the city and we'll still have to buy water from somewhere.
What is the level of the commission's expertise on such matters, that they are qualified to make such an important and expensive decision?
How did the city "save" $3.8 million as you claim when they had to pay millions in penalies for water the city won't ever get when they cancelled a legal contract. How is that a savings? That kind of logic might work on the mindless zombies that support "the best commission ever" but some residents are capable of processing thoughts.
I suppose you should really do your own research since you are such a cynic and non-believer. Also, you could probably start right here on this blog. Next step, if you can't find the answer here, call your Commissioner. It is you being a big critic based on???????? lack of knowledge it seems.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really AWESOME tour! Who knew that touring a Wastewater Treatment Plant would be so educational and fun! THANKS ECR!
ReplyDeleteRW
anony, you certainly are a pessimist on just about everything. How would we have paid for the Cnty water which was going to be more expensive? Did you think we were going to get something for nothing? Ending the contract is included in the savings of $3 1/2 million. Stop making stupid charges on things when you have no knowledge. It proves how dumb you are. That's the problem in this city.
ReplyDeleteWater is basic to life. It is a precious resource and has become precious commodity now. On going Industrialization, population & urbanization pose pressure on water availability...
ReplyDelete