The August 23 Seminole County Board of County Commissioners meeting included a discussion concerning possible funding for a new SCADA (Supervisory Controls and Data Acquisition) system in Tri-County Rural Water District (TCRWD) 2.

Joey Nowlin, TCRWD 2 Project Coordinator, explained the SCADA system makes it possible to monitor and control water towers, pump motors, and other important points in the system using a laptop computer instead of having to physically travel to each location.

Nowlin informed the commissioners TCRWD 2 recently acquired the Seminole Rural Water District 7 in February 2020, although they have basically been running it since 2018. He stated the system includes two wells and one water tower. A SCADA system would allow them to use a laptop to remotely check and control the water level in the tower, as well as which well was pumping and which wasn’t, among other actions. He added that the District 2 water treatment plant, six water wells, towers, etc. are already on a SCADA system, and they were hoping to simply tie Seminole District 7 into their water treatment facility and add SCADA to it. However, they discovered their current SCADA system is now obsolete, and they won’t be able to make the tie-in until they upgrade the entire SCADA system. The cost estimate for the project was approximately $98,000. He was interested in obtaining CARES Act (Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic security act) funds to help defray the cost of the project.

District 1 Commissioner Russell Yott informed Nowlin there was no more CARES Act funding available, although there could possibly be some ARP (American Rescue Plan) funds. Yott pointed out that the county is already helping the water district by not charging for road crossing permits, and recently moved a water line that cost approximately $40,000 - $50,000, so he felt like they were already helping quite a bit. Nowlin replied this help was greatly appreciated.

TCRWD 2 Office Manager Abby Thompson reminded the commissioners that, although they are considered a non-profit water district under Title 82, they are a privately owned company, which makes them ineligible for a CDBG grant. She explained they acquired District 7 when it appeared to be going bankrupt and the customers came to them seeking help, and they’ve worked hard to turn it around.

District 3 Commissioner Clifton Taylor recalled that Seminole District 7 didn’t have the funds to do what they needed to do. He believes one thing that hurt them was the large number of people that had originally signed up for, but later backed out of, the system, leaving them without enough money to operate. Thompson agreed.

Commissioner Yott commented that there is a reason why a private company purchases another company, and he doesn’t see why the County should have to bail them out when they discover that company is failing, adding he wasn’t certain if the county could legally offer funding to a privately owned company. He also expressed his disappointment that the water district hadn’t helped with the cost of moving the water line. He expressed his concern that if they agree to help one water district they may be opening the door to even more requests.

Thompson reminded Yott that the water line moving project took place before they acquired Seminole 7. Since then they have a new board and a new staff. They work hard to keep their customers happy and the water quality high. She understood if they couldn’t provide all of the funds for the upgrade, and they would greatly appreciate any help they did receive.

The commissioners stated they would keep the request in mind and see what they might be able to come up with, although they didn’t make any guarantees.