Last updated on August 21, 2023
Belleair has a huge decision to make.
The TBNweekly wrote. That Belleair’s Huge Decision to Water or Not.
But our town commissioners, even though they haven’t asked even a faction of Belleair’s residents. What they want and how they’d prefer to spend. Their tax dollars!
Murphy said. With rises in chlorides and dissolved solids, our current water system won’t keep up after 2023. Does this suggest our current water supply? Unless we listen to McKim & Creed’s recommendation and build a $12 million reverse-osmosis water treatment? Or connect to Pinellas County water. Will it cause us to have a Flint, MI, water crisis?
FIOG – USF
Belleair’s water system was built in 1926, upgraded in 1968 and discussed several times a year for the past 20 years.
In Oct of 2018, Belleair commissioners authorized paying the Florida Institute of Government (FIOG) and USF $60,000 for a survey of Belleair residents and a report to assist elected town leaders. The 6-page survey/report recommended five changes.
Firstly, they suggested financial responsibility, proactive policing, pavement quality, preservation of the bluffs, and Belleair’s water supply. Do you mean to tell me we spent 60K for a 6-page report? That contained obvious goals previously acknowledged and voiced by anguished residents. For years!
Financial responsibility. Think of that elected official taking financial responsibility. Better yet, taking any responsibility.
Proactive policing. You got to be kidding. Proactive policing means we’re getting out in front by preventing crimes. First of all, what crimes. Belleair’s crime index is 2/3rd less than the national average. For example, Florida averages 2.17 officers per 1,000, while Belleair has 3.46 officers per 1,000 residents.
Pavement quality is no-brainier. Just take a ride on most any Belleair roadway. You’ll soon realize. Street quality at all, but Belleair’s more affluent sections are mediocre at best for most residents.
Preservation of the bluff. Won’t ever be an issue simply because it’s a more affluent subdivision of Belleair. This recommendation likely came from many of the 171 residents that completed the fake survey.
That leaves the water supply recommendation supplied by the Florida Institute of Government (FIOG) and USF. This recommendation. It will be the money shot for some of the connected protectors.
After receiving the FIOG and USF report, Town Manager Murphy said. “The report that we deliver is what will give you as much information as you can need within the realm of the reason of what it will require to move forward or not move forward with RO.”
That was nearly two years ago. I can only presume officials were more concerned about wetting their pecks than planning for Belleair’s future. To make sure it provides Belleair with clean fresh water.
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