Board accepts donated Barefoot Bay parcels as county moves to design $150M South Brevard plant

County staff told the board the donation of several Barefoot Bay parcels will let the county lead grant applications and design for a consolidated South Brevard advanced water and wastewater treatment facility intended to replace aging Barefoot Bay plants. "We are looking at around $150,000,000," a county utility presenter said, characterizing the design as still preliminary (about 20% complete) and noting the facility will provide advanced wastewater treatment and reverse-osmosis water treatment to meet PFAS and nutrient requirements.

Multiple Barefoot Bay residents objected to conveying land at nominal cost and asked how much district customers have already paid toward bonds and the new plant; they urged transparency and questioned whether customers should receive a credit or earlier integration. Staff and county counsel said that when the Barefoot Bay district sunsets by statute the district’s assets will transfer to the county and that accelerating the conveyance clarifies ownership for grant and permit purposes; the board voted to accept the donation and authorize the chair to execute the deed.