OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Tampa Bay Water Regular Board Meeting – August 19, 2026

Hillsborough County Archive View Page — Wednesday, August 19, 2026
BodyHillsborough County, Florida
SessionHillsborough County Archive View Page
DateWednesday, August 19, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 52:12
Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

Good morning, everyone.

0:16

Welcome to the August 17th, 2026 regular board meeting of Tampa Bay Water.

0:21

This meeting was noticed in the Florida Administrative Register and on the Tampa Bay Water website.

0:26

The meeting is available for viewing through live streaming, and a recording of the meeting will be posted on the agency's website.

0:33

Today we're continuing to use our new feature that allows board members to request to speak and to make motions in seconds using their tablets rather than speaking out.

0:41

We expect this change to improve accuracy and clarity as it can be difficult to hear across the days.

0:46

So board members, as we move through the meeting, please hear tablets for these functions, and we appreciate everyone's patience as we adjust to this new process.

0:55

At this moment, we have our pledge of allegiance, and our vice chair is going to lead us.

1:03

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

1:16

Thank you.

1:24

Commissioner Cohen.

1:26

Here.

1:26

Mayor Davis.

1:27

Here.

1:28

Commissioner Eggers.

1:29

Here.

1:29

Councilman Miranda.

1:31

Here.

1:31

Commissioner Oakley.

1:33

Commissioner Peters.

1:35

Commissioner Woostel.

1:37

Here.

1:37

Vice Chair Waitman.

1:38

Present.

1:39

Chair Hanowitz.

1:40

Here.

1:42

Madam Chair Corma is present.

1:44

Thank you.

1:45

Board members, are there any changes to the agenda?

1:49

I see none.

1:50

At this point, we go to public comment.

1:53

Each speaker will have three minutes to speak.

1:56

The first speaker I have here is David Ballard Geddes Jr.

2:00

Good morning.

2:04

Hi, good morning.

2:06

Uh David Ballard Geddes Jr.

2:08

I live on Georgia Avenue in Palm Harbor.

2:11

The Federalist Papers reveals three constitutions.

2:15

The former, the latter, and the last resort.

2:20

One and one and one is three.

2:24

Got to be good looking.

2:25

It's just so hard to see.

2:27

Tip your hat to the new constitution and pray you don't get fooled again.

2:33

This change, it had to come.

2:35

You knew it all along.

2:36

And even McJer at Madison Square Gardens in 1969 said, Welcome to the breakfast show.

2:45

The Federalist Papers were not written by Hamilton, Madison, or John J.

2:52

The Federalist Papers were originally drafted by a shoemaker by the name of Jacob Bohm.

2:58

Shoemaker, stick to thy last.

3:30

Oh, for it is far better to be feared than it is to be loved.

3:36

Even George Washington, he claims to be of greatest rankness and truly one's worst enemy in his farewell to Christianity address.

3:46

And he states that twice we are being given a useful lesson on our heads, seen as a useful art for limited times in Article 1, Section 8, Clause 8.

3:58

Our current Constitution, unconstitutionally, is being used as a bill of attainder, a letter of marquee, an ex post facto form of reprisal seen as inexcusably defective in Federalist Paper Number 64, both deaf to the voice of justice and consiguentity, as written in the Declaration of Independence.

4:21

Abraham Lincoln, he did not write the 14th amendment.

4:26

He amended it to include the rebellion clause denouncing the Book of Common Rebellion.

4:33

Such well-bound book of rebellion is possibly found in statute 298.36.

4:41

London Bridges falling down, London Bridges falling down, and they can take their wayfaring mercenaries down with them too.

4:50

Welcome to the bond market.

4:52

Thank you.

4:53

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████13%
Technology and Innovation███████████11%
Procedural████████8%
Public Engagement████████8%
Procurement Process██████6%
Public Transportation█████5%
Legal██2%
Public Records Law█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Tampa Bay Water Regular Board Meeting – August 19, 2026

The Tampa Bay Water Board held its regular meeting on August 19, 2026, addressing drought conditions, water supply projects, and infrastructure expansions. The board approved several action items related to the South Hillsborough Pipeline and Well Field, SCADA upgrades, and professional services contracts. Public comments included concerns about low lake levels and a rambling statement on constitutional issues.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • David Ballard Geddes Jr. delivered a rambling statement referencing the Federalist Papers, the Constitution, and other topics, none directly related to water issues.
  • Joe Abuzek, representing Lake Carroll residents (approximately 1,000 people), reported that the lake is at a record low, causing boating and fishing to cease and leaving about 50 boats stranded on lifts. He thanked staff for coordinating on the issue and requested continued help from Tampa Bay Water.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was approved unanimously without any items pulled.

General Manager’s Report

  • Drought conditions persist across the tri-county area, with most of the region in extreme or severe drought. A rainfall deficit of 14.3 inches over the last year and river flows at 23.3 million gallons per day (MGD) below normal remain critical. The service area remains under Stage 3 water shortage restrictions through at least October 1.
  • The C.W. Bill Young Reservoir is now at 4 billion gallons (26% full), up from previous lows. Conservation and enforcement are yielding results: July deliveries were 10 MGD less than projected.
  • The 12-month average pumping rate for consolidated permit well fields reached 106.3 MGD at July’s end. The South Central Hillsborough Regional Well Field averaged 26.57 MGD, below its permit limit.
  • In July, the agency successfully priced $292 million in revenue bonds for the capital improvement plan, refunding a portion of 2016 bonds. The bonds were oversubscribed six times, with orders exceeding $2.3 billion, allowing for lower interest rates. Bond closing is scheduled for August 27.
  • Other updates: a new point of connection request from Pasco County (target 2035), participation in cybersecurity workshops, and receipt of the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 18th consecutive year.

Discussion and Action Items

South Hillsborough Pipeline – Final GMP Package (C1)

  • The board approved the fourth and final Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) amendment with Garney Companies Inc. for $53.65 million ($38.8 million funded by Tampa Bay Water, $14.8 million by Hillsborough County). The total project budget increased to $534.4 million from $505.7 million, largely due to additional work requested by Hillsborough County and higher property acquisition costs.

South Hillsborough Pipeline – Program Management Support (C2)

  • Approved a $3.76 million amendment to the Black & Veatch contract for continued program and construction management support, bringing the total contract to $7 million. Motion passed unanimously.

Fish Hawk CDD Easement Settlement (C3)

  • Approved a $2.1 million settlement with the Fish Hawk Community Development District for seven permanent and two temporary easements. Property acquisition for Segment B increased from $9 million budget to an estimated $11.4 million, but the overall pipeline property budget of $23 million is expected to have savings.

South Hillsborough Well Field – Engineering Services (C4)

  • Approved a $14.3 million professional engineering services contract with Stantec Consulting Services. The well field is expected to yield 6 to 12 MGD, with completion targeted for November 2029. The project has secured 3.7 MGD in water use permits from private landowners and may gain up to 6.1 MGD through recharge credits with Hillsborough County.

SCADA System Upgrades at Surface Water Treatment Plant (C5)

  • Approved a $20.3 million contract amendment with Veolia for construction phase services. The project will modernize the SCADA system, including PLCs, data networks, and cybersecurity controls. Construction will run concurrent with the plant expansion, with substantial completion by December 2028.

As-Needed Engineering Services Contracts (C6)

  • Approved the award of 25 five-year contracts for as-needed engineering services, each valued at up to $1.25 million, with individual tasks up to $500,000. Nine of the 25 firms are new to Tampa Bay Water.

Construction Update – South Hillsborough Pipeline and Surface Water Treatment Plant Expansion (D1)

  • The surface water treatment plant expansion is 10% complete (20% of budget spent). The South Hillsborough Pipeline is 8% complete by linear footage (20% of construction budget spent). Staff highlighted public outreach efforts, including coordination with six schools. Commissioner Wastel expressed concerns about inadequate public notification and requested improved signage and communication. The update was received and filed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • All action items (C1 through C6) were approved unanimously by the board.
  • The board received and filed the construction update (D1).
  • The board discussed possibly canceling the September meeting if the agenda is light.
  • A motion to adjourn was approved unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the August 17th, 2026 regular board meeting of Tampa Bay Water. This meeting was noticed in the Florida Administrative Register and on the Tampa Bay Water website. The meeting is available for viewing through live streaming, and a recording of the meeting will be posted on the agency's website. Today we're continuing to use our new feature that allows board members to request to speak and to make motions in seconds using their tablets rather than speaking out. We expect this change to improve accuracy and clarity as it can be difficult to hear across the days. So board members, as we move through the meeting, please hear tablets for these functions, and we appreciate everyone's patience as we adjust to this new process. At this moment, we have our pledge of allegiance, and our vice chair is going to lead us. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Thank you. Commissioner Cohen. Here. Mayor Davis. Here. Commissioner Eggers. Here. Councilman Miranda. Here. Commissioner Oakley. Commissioner Peters. Commissioner Woostel. Here. Vice Chair Waitman. Present. Chair Hanowitz. Here. Madam Chair Corma is present. Thank you. Board members, are there any changes to the agenda? I see none. At this point, we go to public comment. Each speaker will have three minutes to speak. The first speaker I have here is David Ballard Geddes Jr. Good morning. Hi, good morning. Uh David Ballard Geddes Jr. I live on Georgia Avenue in Palm Harbor. The Federalist Papers reveals three constitutions. The former, the latter, and the last resort. One and one and one is three. Got to be good looking. It's just so hard to see. Tip your hat to the new constitution and pray you don't get fooled again. This change, it had to come. You knew it all along. And even McJer at Madison Square Gardens in 1969 said, Welcome to the breakfast show. The Federalist Papers were not written by Hamilton, Madison, or John J. The Federalist Papers were originally drafted by a shoemaker by the name of Jacob Bohm. Shoemaker, stick to thy last. Oh, for it is far better to be feared than it is to be loved.

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