Builders association urges Winter Haven to address utility meter delays that slow housing projects

Representatives of local builders urged Winter Haven leaders on June 8 to intervene after repeated problems scheduling and setting water meters, an issue the builders said is adding cost and delay to housing projects.

"There seems to be a breakdown in the relationship from the water utility department particularly in meter setting," Steve Miller, president of the Pole County Builders Association (and a representative of Highland Homes), told commissioners. "...you have private businesses that are going well into construction without meterable water. And what that means is...it's an additional cost to the builders, which impacts the affordable housing crisis."

Miller asked elected leaders to "poke and prod" staff who are not responding to builder inquiries and said association representatives will meet with city staff to exchange contact information and work toward a solution. He suggested examining prior approaches such as presetting meters for developments to reduce installation time.

City staff response and next steps: the commission did not take immediate formal action during the meeting; Miller said an association representative would follow up with staff. Commissioners and staff acknowledged the importance of the relationship between developers and the water-utility department and directed staff to engage with the association to identify operational fixes.

Context: the builders' complaints came during the public-comment period amid broader discussion of city infrastructure projects including a forthcoming water-treatment facility procurement mentioned by a commissioner. Improving communication and turnaround on meter setting was presented as a relatively low-cost operational fix that could help affordability for local housing projects.