OKEECHOBEE – A project to extend sewer lines along the Rim Canal to Okee-Tantie is expected to start construction this Spring according to information shared at the Sept. 22 meeting of the Okeechobee County Board of Commissioners.
John Hayford, Okeechobee Utility Authority executive director, said OUA is has provided the water records for all the properties along the route to the design team.
The facility plan has been completed for the length of pipe, width of pipe and pump stations. The next step will be to determine the connections needed for properties along the route, he explained. He said they have a meeting scheduled with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about permits needed for the sewer lines.
Hayford said they expect construction to start by early Spring with completion in 12 to 18 months.
He said they need to know when the Bass Pro/Big Cedar Lodge project will kick off and the sewer line requirements. He said they have a meeting scheduled with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about permits needed for the sewer lines. Bass Pro plans to turn Okee-Tantie into a world class fishing resort.
County Attorney Wade Vose said OUA should be “looped into direct communication with Big Cedar in regard to timelines.”
He said he recently received an update from Jeff Sumner who has been involved in the Okee-Tantie project. Vose said Sumner will still be involved, but Big Cedar has brought in a big national engineering firm.
“They have a meeting Oct. 14 with the (South Florida Water Management) District to move forward the pieces they need for the permit with the corps,” he said.
“They expect to complete the process and have permits in hand in about 18 months,” said Vose.
“If it does take 12 to 18 months, it doesn’t stop us from doing work on either side,” said Hayford.
He said Sumner is also involved in the OUA project.
David Hazellief said he would like to see OUA project include Buckhead Ridge but that Glades County should lobby for the grants to extend the project to Glades County. He said the grant funds Glades County has received have all gone to Moore Haven projects.
“I hope Glades County would encourage their lobbyists to bring in more money to go to Buckhead Ridge,” he said.
