The process to have Orange County Utility (OCU) take over Wedgefield Pluris will be long and we were warned as we embarked on this.
On Nov 13, 2018 OCU (Utilities Department Engineering Division) requested and received approval to hire Hartman Consultants, LLC to provide “Opinion of Value for Pluris Wedgefield, Inc., Water and Wastewater System”. This represents a first action Orange County is officially taking on behalf of Wedgefield Pluris customers. Hartman Consultants will appraise the value of the water and wastewater plant and distribution system for OCU.
It took a while to get to this point, but it will be well worth it. Many residents have put time into this issue for decades. The history behind the quest for better water and pricing goes back several decades and we still have some of those original residents residing in the community.
For YEARS every single elected official would not touch this issue saying that we had to deal directly with the FL Public Service Commission (PSC). While this is true we still need our elected officials to act on our behalf.
In 2016, we finally used the local election and helped propel this issue here in Orange County. We must continue to be smart and loud to get the attention of those elected to work on OUR behalf.
Personally, I am proud to have worked on this issue and to at least help bring it to this point with a LOT of help and leadership from many in the community.
As I am ending my time on the WHOA Board as Vice President and moving out of Wedgefield, I hope more residents will step up to help lead and see this issue through to the end. Wedgefield residents should have safe and affordable water.
Thank you to Connie West, Mike Boston, Evelyn Perez, Natalie Mariko, Melissa Lasser, Rob Hoppe, Sylvia Cox, Helen Unser, Phil Unser, Mike Nolan, Jessica Kohl, Adam Nehr, Chris John, Collen Wollam, Alta Deevers, Gregory Lusch, Rich Steinke, Tim McKinney, and many many more volunteers. I am still in Orange County and will still support the effort get #PlurisOut.
As always, all residents have work to do so when there are discrepancies in your billing, water quality or water service occur, please report them to the proper authorities: FDEP, Orange County Commissioners and Mayor and Public Service Commission.
See below for all the addresses.
FDEP
Nathan Hess, 407.897.4140,
nathan.hess@dep.state.fl.us
OR
Dave Herbster 407-897-2944,
dave.herbster@dep.state.fl.us
Public Service Commission:
clerk@psc.state.fl.us or contact@psc.state.fl.us 1-800-342-3552
Mayor@ocfl.net
District1@ocfl.net
District2@ocfl.net
District3@ocfl.net
District4@ocfl.net
District5@ocfl.net
District6@ofcl.net
In 2016, the WHOA formed a “Water Committee” to coordinate the work needed and liase with the various departments (FDEP, EPA, Orange County BCC, OCU, etc).
This committee will continue to do the work with everyone’s help. Be on the lookout for future updates and call to action from the Wedgefield Water Committee.
Pam Dimarzio, 321-234-6671
