The Martin County Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 9 adopted a final assessment resolution creating a municipal service benefit unit (MSBU) to fund a vacuum-based sewer system for the Coral Gardens community and unanimously approved the construction contract for the project.

Leo Repetti, Martin County Utilities technical services administrator, told the board the system will serve 631 single-family residences in Coral Gardens and that the total project cost is roughly $18.1 million after accounting for grants and contributions. Repetti said grant funding includes an $8 million Protecting Florida Together water-quality award and other county and utility contributions; the remaining assessment is about $7.2 million. Dividing that amount among the benefiting properties results in an estimated per-property assessment of $11,438.46, which Repetti said is below the county’s $12,000 cap for assessments.

Repetti said the county has obtained state revolving fund financing at an interest rate of 1.83 percent; property owners who do not prepay will have the assessment placed on their tax bills over 20 years. He estimated that customers already connected to water would see an approximate $51 monthly increase in their water-related bills attributable to the project. If approved, staff expects to award the construction contract and begin shop drawings and permitting, with construction anticipated to begin in February and to run about 18 months, targeting early summer 2027 for substantial completion.

Public comment at the hearing included Coral Gardens resident Dustin Bishop, who said he attended the community workshop, praised staff outreach and expressed full support for the project. Commissioners praised staff for successful community engagement and competitive bids.

Later in the meeting the board approved the procurement recommendation to award the construction contract to Felix Civil Construction in the amount of $14,086,089 and authorized the county administrator or designee to execute related documents. County staff told the board the low bid came in below the engineers’ earlier estimate and that Felix Civil has relevant vacuum-system experience.

The board’s approvals authorize staff to proceed with contract execution, shop drawing reviews and coordination with the contractor. Repetti said assessments will be due as lump-sum prepayments on an August date in 2027 for those who prepay; otherwise the assessment will appear on November 2027 tax bills. The county will return to the project procurement and administration process as construction and permitting proceed.