Memorandum

Date:            April 27, 2006

To:                Mayor & Commissioners

From:           D. Bill Mathis, Town Manager

Re:                Town Update – May 2006

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I am providing you with brief updates on some of the Town’s continuing projects and events.  This will be my last meeting as your full time Town Manager and I would like once again to thank the Commission for the opportunity to serve the Town.  The Town has accomplished a lot in the past few years, and the Majority of Citizens have been patience and understanding while the South Drainage project has been ongoing during a trying period. 

Stormwater Drainage Project - South Phase – On April 18, 2005 Chaz Equipment Company, Inc. (Chaz) was given the notice to proceed to start work on the South Phase of the stormwater drainage project.  The Contractor (Chaz) has completed the construction of the wet well for the Tropical Drive pump station.  The purpose of the wet well is to collect and hold the stormwater from the roadway and the connecting drainage pipes to the north and south of Tropical Drive.   The wet well also contains the five (5) electric pumps that force the water into the 48” pipe that goes to the Woolbright Road detention area.  They have completed the installation of the manifold, check valves and piping to connect the pump station wet well to the 48” force main on Tropical Drive.  The contractor has completed the back filling of the hole for the pump station wet well and connecting the 30” and 24” drainage pipes from the north and south.  They have completed the installation of the new 6” water line on Tropical Drive that goes from the middle of the block west to North Ocean Blvd. (A-1-A).  The Tropical Drive road remains closed to through traffic.  On April 25, 2006 the contractor installed a 16” conduit pipe across A-1-A at Tropical Drive.  This pipe is to provide the electric and control wires from the control panel on the west side of A-1-A to the pumps on Tropical Drive.  Florida Power and Light (FPL) have completed the installation of a new transformer on the existing electric pole on the northwest corner of Woolbright Road and A-1-A to provide power to this pump station.  The contractor has moved the generator and five (5) pumps for the Woolbright Road pump station into place.  On February 23, 2006 a walk through inspection was conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) concerning the FDOT utility permit for the installation of the drainage piping in the right-of-way along State Road A-1-A.  A punch list of outstanding issues was generated during the walk through and these will be addressed by the contractor.  The contractor is continuing with dewater discharge monitoring for the detention area and submitting daily test reports.  The engineer’s survey crew has started to collect as built data for the project.  The contractor is now supposed to be substantially complete with the project in three hundred eighty one (381) days from the notice to proceed date which would make the date for substantial completion as May 3, 2006.

Coconut Lane Drainage Improvements – On January 9, 2006 the Town Commission approved an amount not to exceed of $275,000 for the Coconut Lane drainage improvements.  This cost will cover the improvements in the alley, in the road and the administrative costs.  Chaz Equipment Company, Inc. has completed the regrading the swales in the road right-of-way, uncovering of the old curbs and gutters and installed new curbs and gutters in the needed areas.  On March 21, 2006 a walk through inspection was performed by the Town Engineers to observe the roadway improvements.  The contractor has completed addressing all except for one of the outstanding items that was developed during the inspection.  The contractor has provided the Town with a final cost estimate of $170,365 for the improvements in the alley.  The improvements in the alley consist of removing obstructions, filling, regrading, soding and piping of the alley.  The costs for these improvements will be funded by increasing the Town’s State Revolving Fund Loan with the FDEP.

Grant Funds – On April 13, 2006 the Town received a payment in the amount of $380,000 from Palm Beach County for the Town’s Lake Worth Lagoon Grant #2 for the South Phase of the drainage project.  The total amount for the Lake Worth Lagoon Grant #2 is $400,000 so the balance to receive for this grant is $20,000.   Also on April 26, 2006 the Town received a payment in the amount of $170,000 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the Town’s Federal 319 Grant for the South Phase of the drainage project.  The total amount for the Federal 319 Grant is $300,000 so the balance to receive for this grant is $130,000.

Fire Hydrant Testing – The City of Boynton Beach has hired the firm of Metro Hydrant and Valve Services, Inc. (Metro) to test the operation of all fire hydrants which Boynton Beach Fire Department provides coverage for, which includes the Town of Ocean Ridge.  The work included the testing of the functioning of each hydrant, flow and pressure tests, gathering statistical data on each hydrant and inspecting the overall condition of each hydrant.  In April Metro tested all 141 fire hydrants located in the Town of Ocean Ridge which includes all Town owned and privately owned fire hydrants.  Metro found seven (7) fire hydrants that were not working and out of service in Town.  Five (5) of the fire hydrants are owned by the Town and two (2) are privately owned.  As of this date the Town has put all five (5) hydrants back into service three (3) were replaced and two (2) have been repaired.  The Boynton Beach Fire Department is in the process of notifying the owners of the two (2) private fire hydrants that are out of service and are in need of repair.

State Revolving Fund Loan – On April 7, 2006 a disbursement for construction for the South Phase of the stormwater drainage improvements was received from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).  This disbursement was for construction services of $604,607, mechanical equipment of $191,836 and technical services during construction of $33,724 for a total disbursement in the amount of $830,167.  At the April 12^th FDEP hearing an increase in funding to the Town’s State Revolving Fund Loan was approved for $900,000.  This increase will include the costs for the Coconut Lane improvements and additional South Phase projects costs relating to the mechanical equipment and the contractor’s construction costs.  At the June Town Commission meeting, the Town will need to approve an amendment to the loan agreement for this additional funding.

Hurricane Funding – In April 2006 the Town received checks in the amount of $74,013.79 from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster relief funding as part of the public assistance program.  These funds were to reimburse the Town for debris removal in the amount of $88,874.91 and damaged signs in the amount of $2,583.87.  The total amount so far that the Town has received from FEMA for Hurricane Wilma is $204,530.20.  Note: Project Coordinator Michael Tait oversees FEMA funding and has done a great job.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 1:  Town Commission Meeting – 6:00 pm

May 2:  Code Enforcement – 10:00 am

June 5:  Town Commission Meeting – 6:00 pm

cc:     Edward Hillery, Police Chief

          Karen Hancsak, Town Clerk

          Town Employees