Cleaning Up Saves Palmetto Bay Money

At the surface, a new service vehicle in operation in Palmetto Bay might seem like a yawner, but it is anything but. This is a story of ‘there’s more than meets the eye’. Near the end of October, the Village announced the arrival of a brand-new top-of-the-line vacuum truck, specifically a Titan Vac-Con jetting/vacuum truck.

The primary purpose of the vehicle will be to clear and maintain Palmetto Bay’s extensive storm drainage system. The job was previously outsourced to various vendors and the Village was only able to address the entire 7-mile pipe system over a three-year period. “This is a game changer for us. With this new truck, we are looking to service the whole drainage system annually, at a greatly reduced cost,” said Palmetto Bay’s Director of Public Works, Dionisio Torres. “The Village will be making a permanent hire and purposing other staff to create a two-man operation that will utilize the truck almost every day of the year.”

Palmetto Bay’s Director of Public Works, Dionisio Torres and Village Manager Nick Marano

The truck itself is essentially a high-pressure jetting system and a super-duty vacuum. So, with one efficient vehicle, they can clean and then remove debris. “The truck cost the Village approximately $450,000, all of which was paid for with funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA),” explained Village Manager Nick Marano. Thus, none of the cost was borne by taxpayers. Dionisio Torres added, “Within 3-4 years, this truck will have paid for itself in savings to the Village.” A win-win situation for all.

Even more important, homeowners in the Village stand to see significant benefits beyond just cleared stormwater drains. “We have a substantial effort underway to make the Village more resilient to stormwater,” said Village Manager Marano. “About three years ago our engineers designed 10 projects that allow us to drain into deliberate drainage systems, these are either functioning today or are under construction. The goal is to have an even more efficient method of dealing with removing or displacing stormwater.” To the Village’s credit, Federal grants are also paying for much of this work.

This, as well as other efforts, has lower the Community Rating System (CRS) from an 8 to a 7. The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Scores start at 10 and the lower the score, the lower the insurance premiums. Marano states going from an 8 to a 7 has already reduced the average homeowner’s flood insurance premium by $250. He further believes Palmetto Bay can achieve a 5 score in the near future, which would be an additional 10% savings on current flood insurance rates.

So, next time you see this truck working in Palmetto Bay, just think about the financial impact and give thanks to those that put it on the road. Sometimes, there truly is ‘more than meets the eye’.