TAMPA – It’s simple, Tampa Bay Water board members say, $30 million just isn’t enough.
It will take much more to fix the broken and cracked Bill Young Reservoir in Hillsborough County that’s had problems from the beginning. And Tampa Bay Water rejected a settlement offer Monday from the firm they say caused all the issues.
“30 million dollars just didn’t cut it.” said Sandra Murman, Tampa Bay Water Board Member.
Huge cracks opened up in the walls of the reservoir soon after it opened in 2005. Some were up to 400 feet long and more than a foot deep. Workers patched them, but the patches didn’t hold, so Tampa Bay Water sued.
Last month, board members voted 4-3 in favor of a $30 million settlement with the firm that designed and inspected the reservoir.
But Tampa Bay Water’s rules require at least five board members to vote in agreement. They did not do that. In fact, they voted unanimously against the settlement, continuing the legal process.
Board members say $30 million is just too low. They’re hoping to get three times that amount if they win in court, and they’ll need it. Fixing the reservoir will cost about $121 million.
“From the beginning, I voted not to take that settlement because I felt that the public deserves us to take a closer look and do a better job for them and demand more from the people who created the problem to begin with.” Murman said.
It’s not clear when the case could finally go to trial. Of course, if or when it does, there’s no guarantee of the outcome.
“Yes, you could come out with zero. It’s a very complicated case.” Murman says. “You always take that risk, but I think we have a good case.”
Tampa bay water has a new contract with another firm now to fix the reservoir. They’re also planning to expand it by three billion gallons.
