Orange City reviews budget, approves extra engineering hours for deep‑well testing as septic‑to‑sewer work continues

City Manager Christine Davis and Utilities Director Robert Lawler led the June 9 Orange City Council meeting’s budget discussions, laying out modest changes to administration and clerk budgets while stressing larger capital and water‑system needs in utilities.

"The amended budget to the requested budget is increasing less than a percent at this time," City Manager Christine Davis said while noting the council will see pay‑plan recommendations in July. She described operating expenditure increases as largely small line‑item changes driven by inflation and equipment replacement needs.

Utilities Director Robert Lawler said the water and wastewater funds show increases in personnel, operating, capital and debt service. He told the council the utilities budget includes added grant‑seeking capacity "to help us fund these current unfunded mandates in septic to sewer," and listed capital projects such as a Park Hill–Junior Street water main loop, service‑line replacements, backup fuel tanks at wells 6 and 7, and equipment replacement including a ground‑penetrating radar and security cameras.

The meeting also included a vote on Amendment No.1 to Work Order 259‑23, the engineering contract for the Lower Florida Aquifer (LFA) exploratory well on Kentucky Avenue. Staff described drilling that reached roughly 1,000 feet before technicians found the water became increasingly saline and "very brackish," making it unsuitable for municipal use without significant treatment. Lawler said the team ran a larger drill bit and additional targeted sampling and that the extra work exhausted allotted engineering hours.

"Once we got down to about 1,000 feet, we learned that the water was... brackish and salty and was not able to be used for our services without a massive amount of investment for water treatment," Lawler said, explaining the need for further testing and development at shallower target depths (around 400 feet) and for pilot‑scale treatment evaluation.

Council approved the amendment extending technical hours and testing. Lawler noted the wastewater side is accounting for a pending grant (referenced in the meeting as roughly $7.5 million) that is not yet reflected in the current capital figures; staff said that grant would materially affect septic‑to‑sewer project funding if awarded.

The council directed staff to continue technical sampling, bring back a laboratory‑tested water‑quality report, and prepare options for pilot treatment systems before committing to large‑scale treatment investments.

The next procedural step is for staff and the engineering firm to complete the targeted sampling and return with a written technical report and cost estimates for any proposed pilot treatment or additional drilling.