HomeMy WebLinkAbout16.a FYI 2023-10-06 BoS Memo Johnston Legislative Comments Ccou AitHr` CLAY COUNTY UTILITY AUTHORITY
� MEMORANDUM
AUTNO�
TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jeremy D. Johnston,MBA, PE, Executive Directri��
DATE: October 6, 2023
RE: Remarks to the Legislative Delegation representing Clay County
I attended the meeting of the Legislative Delegation representing Clay County on Wednesday, October 4,
2023. I am providing below the remarks I made to the Legislative Delegation for your information. As
always, I am available if you have any questions.
"Good afternoon, Representative Garrison, Representative Payne, and Senator Bradley.
On behalf of our Board of Supervisors and the entire CCUA team,thank you for your service in representing
Clay County in the State Legislature.
Thank you for supporting last year's HB 23/SB 162. We considered this bill significant by including water
and wastewater utility workers as first responders in natural disasters. Faced with the impacts from
Hurricane Idalia,the CCUA team again rose to the occasion. We sent a team of highly trained mechanics,
operators, and technicians to support the Town of Jennings in their disaster recovery efforts.
Next, our team greatly appreciates your support of last year's HB 1405 including special districts in the
biosolids grant program. CCUA began investing in Class AA biosolids 20 years ago. Soon, all our large
regional water reclamation facilities will produce Class AA biosolids. These investments provide
significant benefits to our customers and the natural resources we value and protect.
Thank you for your support of CCUA's appropriation funding requests last year. We are beginning two
major initiatives we will submit for consideration for legislative appropriation funding this session. We
respectfully ask for your support in these funding initiatives.
The first initiative relates to Operations Technology and Cybersecurity. We continue to advance the master
planning of Operations Technology systems. The implementation of modern Operations Technology will
provide tools for greater operational efficiency and effectiveness. CCUA will also use modern
Cybersecurity to protect the systems we use to accomplish our core mission in protecting public health and
safety. The Operations Technology with supporting Cybersecurity represents over a$5 million investment
by CCUA.
The next initiative involves the expansion and upgrade of the Keystone Heights Water Reclamation Facility.
This facility currently serves 105 commercial and 7 residential accounts.Expanding the facility will support
growth in population, septic to sewer conversions, and more advanced treatment levels to protect the
environment. We anticipate CCUA's total investment to expand this facility will be roughly $11 million.
The CCUA team greatly appreciates all you do for the people of Clay County.Thank you for your service."
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