Town mulls water fee study
The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council is considering going forward with a study of its water and stormwater fees. A proposal to pay the firm Rafteli’s to conduct the study for $79,500, however, failed to pass the town board at its most recent December meeting.
Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt said the study would be a reduction of $15,000 from the original estimate of $94,500 by taking out a study of impact fees. Hernstadt recommended the firm since it had previously done a similar study for the town, though on smaller scale, in this field.
Councilmember Rexann Hosafros said she was “still hesitant on this,” and asked if it could be done cheaper.
“This is a specialty thing,” Hernstadt said. “This firm is familiar with us. Another firm may charge more.”
Hosafros said former town manager James Steele did a study on the fees when he was in office.
Hernstadt noted that Steele is on the town’s audit committee and expressed support to have an outside third party involved.
Hosafros said she supports a rate study and wants other bids. After Councilmember Bruce Butcher said he agreed with Hosafros the council voted against the contract with Rafteli’s. More bids will be sought.
Hernstadt said he wants to do the study as part of its budget considerations, he said. “We work very hard to have a structurally sound budget.”
According to Hernstadt, the town moved the expenses of stormwater maintenance from the general fund to its stormwater utility fund. The maintenance cost for stormwater drainage is approximately $300,000, he said. Hernstadt said the general fund is strong but expects that the town’s stormwater fees will likely have to be increased.
“We haven’t done an analysis of stormwater rates in quite a while,” he said.