|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Residents who live along the east boundary of Pinecrest between 104 and 120 Streets now have access to county drinking water and fire hydrants for the first time. Some 725 properties will benefit from access to potable water when the project is completed in spring 2023.
“This is a major step and victory for the Village of Pinecrest,” said Mayor Joseph Corradino.
“Previous Village Councils have tried unsuccessfully to resolve this enduring issue. I thank my fellow Village Council members and the Village staff for their visionary leadership in finally bringing resolution to hundreds of property owners.”
For official updates about the project and to see the project map, visit www.pinecrest-fl.gov/water.
Before the project’s initiation in 2004, approximately 1,500 homes in the Village were well-dependent and did not have access to the county’s potable water system. This especially posed a problem as wells can encounter a myriad of issues including failing wells, the threat of saltwater intrusion and unreliability of the well systems during storms due to potential power outages. Additionally, these homes did not have access to fire hydrants, posing further risks should an emergency occur in the Village.
The search for potable water first began in 2004, when former Mayor Gary Matzner attempted to negotiate with the county for the inclusion of funds in the General Obligation Bond, a bond approved by voters, but those funds were not sufficient enough to complete the entire Potable Water Project. Only half of the 1,500 homes received access to water under the bond, leaving some 725 Pinecrest residences without potable water.
However, during the pandemic, the Biden administration passed the American Rescue Plan Act, a Covid-19 stimulus package to aid in the country’s economic recovery. The Village secured more than $9 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Act to be used for certain purposes and infrastructures including the water project and an additional $500,000 through the Miami-Dade County Save Neighborhoods General Obligation Bond and $640,00 from Fiscal Year 2023 Federal Omnibus Appropriations.
These funds will help offset the cost of this project to property owners. Benefitting property owners, however, will pay a special assessment of approximately $358 per year for 25 years to pay off the remaining project balance.
Since January, water pipeline construction has begun for several Pinecrest homes, a project that requires approximately 85,000 linear feet of ductile iron pipe and 210 fire hydrants.
Although the project relates specifically to Pinecrest, the neighborhood water system belongs to Miami-Dade County. Pinecrest does not operate its own water system.
Therefore, the construction of water pipelines becomes the property of the county, which is responsible for providing service and maintenance.
Miami Community Newspaper is an online newspaper that provides up-to-date local news and information about the Miami community. This daily newspaper provides local news coverage and keeps its readers up to date on the latest developments in the area. Their website also includes a Miami community podcast, where listeners can get the latest news and updates on the Miami community. Miami Community Newspapers is the perfect source for all your local Miami news needs, whether it is from their daily newspaper, podcasts, or other media sources.
