Ongoing District Projects

Canal C Expansion Project

Staff has executed a contract for the surveying of Canal C and a survey has been obtained. Staff prepared design cross sections and preliminary plans for the permit applications to expand and relocate Canal C to allow for maintenance on both sides of the canal. Staff also investigated the ownership of Canal C and has attended a meeting with South Florida Water Management District to discuss permitting.

 

Per Board direction, staff submitted a Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative grant application for this project and was ranked on August 9, 2021. Staff submitted the House of Representatives forms for submission to the Florida Legislation for consideration. In addition, staff has reached out to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to discuss permitting. Notification was received March 9, 2022, that Legislative funding was approved for the Canal C project in the amount of $312,500 for Fiscal Year 2023.

 

Staff also researched the US Army Corps 404 Permitting and the delegation to Forida Department of Environmental Protection. It is anticipated that the project will qualify for an exemption for stormwater maintenance. Florida Department of Environmental Protection has confirmed that as long as there are no wetland impacts that are in the Waters of the United States, then a 404/Federal authorization will not be required.

 

A site inspection was held with the new Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit reviewer on April 4, 2023. The reviewer, David White, was still unsure as to which permit route – No Permit Required, Exemption, or General Permit will be required. He will review historic aerials and discuss with his manager. He also requested the fill up to the top of bank.

 

South Indian River Water Control District received the Grant Agreement for review and execution on May 2, 2023.The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a letter on June 23, 2023, confirming that the project does not require a permit under the State 404 Program. The Engineer proceeded with preparation of the contract documents. The District advertised for bids on November 19, 2023 with a Pre-bid meeting scheduled for November 29, however, no potential bidders showed up. As a result, the bid documents were sent to three contractors and Engineering and the Manager of Operations are following up with phone calls.

 

The District received two bids on December 21, 2023. The bids came in very high: Riobak - $1,848,396 and Firethorn Inc. - $2,074, 041.61. The Engineer has discussed options with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant Manager A meeting was held with the low bidder, Riobak on January 16, 2024, to discuss ways to bring the cost down and South Indian River Water Control District performing a portion of the work. Rio-Bak responded on February 13, 2024, offering to perform a third of the work. The District Engineer has confirmed with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that completing a third of the work with the grant funds is acceptable. Staff has requested an extension of the time to complete the work to be funded by the grant until December 31, 2024. Rio-Bak is willing to perform a third of the work and is revising their bid based on the original unit prices for the section of Canal C from 85th Avenue North to 79th Terrace North and the installation of the riprap on the east end.

 

The Board awarded the contract to Rio-Bak at their June 20, 2024 Board of Supervisors meeting. The Contract Documents were sent to Rio -Bak for their execution and return of the Payment and Performance Bonds and they were executed by Rio-Bak and returned for South Indian River Water Control District execution. Rio-Bak has requested to start the project later – in October or November – when conditions are drier.

 

Beginning February 6, 2025, South Indian River Water Control District will be performing reconstruction activities on Canal C between 159th Court North and 160th Lane North in Palm Beach Country Estates. The contractor is estimating that the project will take two months, depending on weather and other circumstances. This will involve significant dump truck activity on the main roadways. Work will be conducted on Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Please drive with caution.

 

Road Paving - 153rd Court North between 69th Drive and 69th Trail North

As a result of landowners’ petitions and the District Engineer’s recommendation, the Board of Supervisors authorized a referendum for the 153rd Court North Roadway Improvement Project between 69th Drive North and 69th Trail North. The referendum balloting concluded on February 24, 2023, with all affected landowners voting in favor of the project.

 

In May 2023, the District authorized the preparation of a draft 20th Plan of Improvements and the necessary engineering investigations. The proposed roadway section to be paved with asphalt is 153rd Court North between 69th Drive North and 69th Trail North. The segment is approximately 0.10 mile in length with a preliminary cost estimate of $96,300, which includes legal, engineering, survey and contingency. The construction of the 20th Plan of Improvements is self-funded by the landowners.

 

Legacy Survey, who proposed the lower price for the survey work, has been delayed in uploading their documentation required to get approved by our Procurement Dept as a subcontractor. Legacy Survey has been approved in AECOM’s Procurement system, the survey Task Order was sent to Legacy for execution and the survey work was tentatively scheduled for October 18, 2023, weather permitting. Legacy Survey provided the survey data on October 31, 2023. The construction plan sheets were set up for the engineer to prepare the design. The bid documents were drafted and the engineer finalized the design.

 

The project was advertised for bids on February 4, 2024 with bids due on March 7, 2024. The bid opening was held on March 7, 2024. Only one bid was received for the project and it was considerably higher than the original estimate. Staff contacted the contractor to see if they were willing to negotiate a lower cost. Since only one bid was received, the project was advertised for bid again on March 31, 2024, with bids due on May 1, 2024. The bid opening was held on May 1, 2024. Two bids were received, which were higher than the bid received on March 7.

 

Staff had been in discussions with the landowner who filed the petition and the District Attorney. Staff received a request from the landowner who filed the petition to reduce the specification requirements for the road base thickness and the amount of driveway restoration required, in order to reduce the cost of the project. A conference call was held on September 26, 2024, with the landowner who filed the petition to discuss the engineering and survey fees to date.

 

The 20th Plan of Improvement was put on hold pending the 2024 Referendum process for the future Plan of Improvement. However, all referendums failed.

 

As a result, the petitioners paid the additional funds needed to the District on February 10, 2025, in order for the project to move forward to construction. Wynn and Sons, the low bidder, was agreeable to signing the contract. A Notice of Award for the construction contract was on the February 20, 2025, Board agenda. The Notice of Award was approved at the February 20th Board meeting. The Contractor, Wynn and Sons, is executed the documents and secured his Payment and Performance Bonds.

 

A Pre-construction meeting was held on April 8, 2025. The Notice to Proceed was issued for April 14, 2025. Construction work has started. Resident's are advised to use caution when accessing the roadway and obey any traffic/construction signage.