TO: Solid Waste Disposal District Board of Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
Sean C. Lieske, Director of Utility Services
FROM: Himanshu H. Mehta, PE, Managing Director, Solid Waste Disposal District
DATE: November 20, 2025
SUBJECT: Request for General Funds for PACE and Other Community Cleanup Projects
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BACKGROUND
The Solid Waste Disposal District (SWDD) has in the past used the General Fund to cover the disposal cost for fees associated with community projects including the Indian River County Health Department Division of Environmental Health’s PACE (Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence) program. The PACE project focuses on identifying issues in a community, one of which is abandoned homes. These abandoned homes pose safety and health hazards, and provide safe havens for drug dealers. It has been determined that there are several homes that need to be demolished to affect the well-being of the community. Other community projects include removing illegal public dumping and non-profit organization clean-up projects that involve volunteers throughout our community. These funds are also used to cover disposal costs for illegal dumping in the Indian River Farms Water Control District canals.
ANALYSIS
SWDD has received the attached request from Miranda C. Swanson, MPH, Health Office at the Health Department, for an allocation of $6,000 for this fiscal year. However, considering last year's usage, staff is only recommending a total of $6,000 in funding, which will cover the pledge of $2,000 per year to the Indian River Farms Water Control District and $4,000 for other cleanup/illegal dumping projects that may be requested by the Health Department.
BUDGETARY IMPACT
Funding, in the amount of $6,000, to cover landfill disposal fees for cleanup events and illegal dumping debris will be made available via budget amendment to the General Fund/Planning/Other Professional Services account, number 00120415-033190.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Infrastructure
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Board of County Commissioners authorize up to $6,000.00 to be donated to various PACE/illegal dumping projects from the General Fund Reserve for Contingencies for the sole purpose of paying associated landfill fees.