TO: Indian River County Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
Sean C. Lieske, Director, Department of Utility Services
Howard G. Richards, PE, Manager - Capital Projects
FROM: Paola Talavera, Associate Engineer, Utility Services
DATE: October 14, 2025
SUBJECT: Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Work Order 22 for Facilities Electrical Improvements and Standby Power - IRCDUS Project ID 00.25.522
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BACKGROUND
This item was removed from the October 7, 2025 agenda. Due to an increase in approval thresholds, effective October 1, 2025, Board approval is no longer required, however, staff wishes to address questions raised during review of the previous staff report.
Indian River County Department of Utilities Services (IRCDUS) owns and operates consolidated water production and distribution, wastewater collection and reclamation, and beneficial use reclaim water systems, that serve customers within the respective service boundaries. Each of these systems have major supporting facilities and infrastructure that are crucial for the daily operations of the utilities. Furthermore, the facilities rely on utility electrical power including IRCDUS-owned electrical equipment to ensure operational reliability. IRCDUS has noted components of their electrical and emergency standby power infrastructure that require improvements to maintain reliability and resiliency.
ANALYSIS
IRCDUS has noted deficiencies with the existing grounding and lightning protection at their major facilities. Thunderstorms are inherent to Southeast Florida and pose a threat to electrical infrastructure that is not adequately protected from lightning. As such, IRCDUS desires to quantify the deficiencies and remediation plan to enhance facility grounding infrastructure which will be outlined in a report that IRCDUS can subsequently utilize for the design, permitting and constru...
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