Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #613 City of Port St. Joe/Wastewater Facility Operating Shortfall 1997-2000
Requester:	City of Port St. Joe City of Port St. Joe		Organization:		City of Port St. Joe
Project Title:	City of Port St. Joe/Wastewater Facility Operating Shortfall 1997-2000		Date Submitted:		01/24/2000 11:12:36 AM
District Member:	Pat Thomas		Service Area:		City/Town
Counties Affected:	Gulf
Recipient:	City of Port St. Joe		Contact:		Pauline Pendarvis
	Post Office Box 278		Contact Phone:		(850) 229-8261
	Port St. Joe 32457
Project Description:
Wastewater Treatment Facility 1997-2000 Operating shortfall due to non-receipt of contracted payments by largest industrial user. The user, Florida Coast Paper Mill, is currently involved in federal bankruptcy proceedings and a settlement is imminent. The requested funds would be repaid to the state based on the final negotiated bankruptcy settlement. The requested amount is calculated based on an estimated monthly use fee of $75,000. to cover the loss of gallonage. This WWTF was built specifically to handle the large industrial flow of the mill. Florida Coast had made several agreements with the city to cover losses, but the latest (and smallest) agreed payment was for $75,000/month. The company made one payment in March 1999 and has defaulted since that time. This payment structure would cover the period of the last mill shutdown through current which would cover the period of August 1998 - January 2000.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
(This project is in a Governor's designated Area of Economic Critical Concern). Gulf County has consistently had the highest unemployment rate in the state due to this closure. Enterprise Florida and the Governor have made recovery of this economic base a top priority. The WWTF currently serves residential customers AND the two - three viable industrial plants still in the area. The city is exploring options to mothball this facility because it cannot generate enough flow to keep the system operational without increased business. This is a multi-tiered problem with the city's bond liability dependent on keeping facility operational until a new solution can be put in place.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Continued operation of WWTF, health and safety of citizens of Port St. Joe.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$1,600,000
Total cost of the project:		$1,600,000

Request has been made to fund:			Operations
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?				No
Was this project previously funded by the State?				No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?				No
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?				No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?				No
Is there a documented need for this project?				Yes
	Documentation:	Continued legal negotiations to protect city revenue stream
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?				Yes
	Hearing Body:	City Commission Budget Workshop
	Meeting Date:	09/14/1999