Tim Murphy’s “Joint Stakeholder Workshop on Utilities” Passed Into History: with tens of millions on the line, taxpayers need to pay attention
May 28, 2025 8:55 pm | 1 min read
FGC video screen grab. Columbia County Observer graphic
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COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – A "Joint Stakeholder Workshop on Utilities" convened on May 22 in Columbia County, bringing together Columbia and Suwannee counties, Lake City, Live Oak, the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD), and others to swap updates on large utility and water-resource projects.
It was moderated by Mike McKee and led by Commissioner Tim Murphy. The meeting was broadcast and recorded only after a last-minute change the day before the meeting. Commissioner Murphy opened the session, framing it as a chance for North Florida governments to chart a unified, "positive" path while noting Florida's Sunshine Law hinders informal problem-solving.
Columbia County’s governmental affairs expert and lobbyist Staz Guntek outlined two statewide trends shaping local utilities: Fiscal uncertainty: shrinking general-fund revenues mean water/sewer systems must be self-sustaining; Regionalization: Tallahassee is steering money to multi-county solutions rather than stand-alone projects.
Project snapshots
Suwannee County’s Shannon Roberts outlined projects for potable and non-potable water, sewer services, and stormwater management amid pressures for economic expansion. Commissioner Franklin White, NFWUA Vice-Chair, discussed attracting businesses to reduce tax burdens and acknowledged the county's challenges.
Live Oak City Manager Larry Sessions reported on projects funded by ARPA, including septic-to-sewer conversions, water line replacements, and efforts to reduce water loss from aging infrastructure. He also mentioned a downtown flood mitigation project and plans for comprehensive annexation to align utilities with growth.
Suwannee River Water Management District Executive Director Hugh Thomas and Chief Hydrogeologist Warren Zwanka emphasized regional water management, addressing water quality (e.g., nitrate pollution from septic tanks), aquifer recharge, and collaboration on infrastructure. They highlighted the need for strategic planning but omitted details on specific programs or ongoing discussions, such as the looming St. Johns-to-Suwannee inter-basin transfer.
A recurrent theme throughout the meeting was the need for joint, long-term planning, especially as population rises and infrastructure ages.
The North Florida Water Utilities Authority (NFWUA) loomed large. Commissioner Rocky Ford of Columbia County, who chairs the NFWUA, advocated for regional solutions like a centralized sewage treatment plant in Fort White to serve multiple areas. Not mentioned was that Fort White has $20 million in grant funds to begin construction of that plant.