North Florida water and utilities authority
Concerned Citizens of North FL - Empowering Communities
Brakes getting pumped on utility group
By JAMIE WACHTER on Friday, May 30, 2025Subhead
Suwannee’s Hale eyes pause on full operations.
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Suwannee County Commissioner Don Hale wants the commission to discuss possibly slowing down the North Florida Water Utilities Authority’s move to handle utility operations in Suwannee and Columbia counties. (FILE)
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LIVE OAK — A year after officially launching, the North Florida Water Utilities Authority is set to finalize a contract with its initial director.
But a Suwannee County commissioner is now wanting to pump the brakes on the regional group that would eventually handle the utility operations for both Suwannee and Columbia counties.
Commissioner Don Hale, the senior member of the Suwannee County Commission, has requested a discussion of the NFWUA at the commission’s 5:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday at the Suwannee County Judicial Annex, 218 Parshley St. SW in Live Oak.
The utility group is set to approve the contract with Shannon Roberts, a member of the Suwannee County administration, as its director Wednesday in a 9:30 a.m. meeting at Duval Place, 971 W. Duval St. in Lake City.
Hale told the Reporter on Thursday that he has questions he wants answered about the NFWUA, including delaying the hiring of Roberts.
“I think we need to pause,” Hale said. “I think a six-month pause is not a bad thing. There’s nothing, in my opinion, that the next six months or a year that board is going to change.
“I’m not against the utilities board, I just have questions I haven’t been able to ask or get answers to.”
Roberts, who will be paid $125,000 as the NFWUA director if his contract is approved, oversees Suwannee County’s grant process including writing and applying for grants and then managing the grants until they are closed out.
Hale said that position is vital to the county’s continued success in obtaining funding for projects and needs to be manned. If Roberts leaves — the contract places his start date as June 9, although previous discussion with the NFWUA board, which includes Suwannee County commissioners Franklin White and Leo Mobley, had mentioned the need for additional transition time before Roberts leaves the county’s operations — Hale wants to know what is the county’s plan to make sure the grants are still handled properly.
“What are our plans for replacing him,” he added. “Are we going to fall behind the 8 ball?
“I would like us to have a plan for replacing him.”
Among the other questions Hale said he has about the NFWUA involves the plan for both counties to eventually turn over its utility operations to the authority. That process is among the achievements that Rocky Ford, the NFWUA chairman and a Columbia County commissioner, listed as possible milestones for Roberts to earn pay increases.
Hale, though, said handing over the control of the utilities — Suwannee County currently has a small water plant at its Catalyst Site west of Live Oak and water and wastewater plants at the White Springs exit off Interstate 75 with grant funding in place to begin construction on a wastewater plant at the Catalyst Site — could hinder economic development.
If the county controls its own utilities, Hale noted that could be used as a possible incentive to help lure businesses to the county by working with the company on who is responsible for which part of installing the lines to the utilities. That may not occur with the NFWUA in charge of the utilities.
“They may say you’re going to pay from way over here, that may shoot the deal down,” Hale said. “You’re taking all that out of the hands of the board of Suwannee County.
“I don’t know that I’m there to say, ‘We need to turn everything over to a utilities board and let them run two counties.”
While the NFWUA is set to approve the contract with Roberts, it also is still waiting on a business plan and a rate study. Bobby Payne, a former state representative who is working as a consultant for the group through Payne Consulting Services, is working on the business plan. He was hired to do that project in December on a six-month term for $5,000 monthly.
Raftelis Financial Consultants was hired in January to do the rate study, which was expected to take eight months and include three separate components: an independent forecast for the utility rates in Columbia County, an independent rate forecast for Suwannee County and a rate forecast for the counties combined under the Authority. County officials have said that process has been slowed due to the lack of a dedicated person to help provide the company the necessary information to do the study.
The NFWUA board is also expected to discuss Wednesday its budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year as well as its future direction/plans. Currently, the authority’s budget is completely funded by allocations from the two counties — which has been $250,000 so far from each.
That is also an ongoing concern for Hale.
“The cost of this. The money we’re putting into this versus the folks we have on line and the money we’re getting from there,” he said. “Where is the revenue source coming from?”
North Florida water and utilities authority
Concerned Citizens of North FL - Empowering Communities
North Florida Water Utilities Authority (NFWUA)
My Take-The short version
May 11, 2025
NFWUA is a self-appointed group that wants to control water and utilities using our money.
“No customers, no assets, no business plan, no strategic plan, a political insider book keeper, a clerk that can’t keep the Authority minutes up-to-date, and no employees.” (Reprint from Columbia County Observer)
Early in 2024 North Florida Professional Services (NFPS) started to lobby Suwannee, Hamilton, and Columbia county commissioners to create NFWUA and the answer I got from my commissioner, was it will save money(not in my opinion),you will see why. At the time there was an effort to get more counties and cities involved but none bought in, and Hamilton never started. To get it all started Dale Williams an employee of NFPS was put in place as interim director. Almost immediately Mr. Williams signed a task order to NFPS for a director search in the amount of $64K. The result was zero since no one applied.
Then two county commissioners Rocky Ford and Tim Murphy from Columbia County and Franklin White and Leo Mobley from Suwannee County and an independent citizen Steven Dicks were self-appointed to the board. Each county put in $250K to date in the kitty.
Here is where the money gets spent pretty quickly, as best I can tell, since meeting minutes are not on their website by the Columbia County clerk, and no video or audio.
· Hired Grady Williams as attorney for a retainer of $6,000 per month, plus litigation fees. For reference Suwannee County pays their attorney a retainer of $2,500 a month plus litigation which usually ends up about $7,000 a month.
· Next Ratellis Financial is hired to do a rate study to the tune of $130K. I am not sure how you do a rate study when Suwannee has 1 to 2 commercial customers (ref: Suwannee County Utility Infrastructure project update 1/7/25) and Columbia has about 15 to 16.
· Hired Bobby Payne Consultants, LLC to do a business plan at $5,000 per month with no end date; you would think this would be the first thing to do. If you don’t know the goals and direction of a business how do you go forward?
· Hired Multi Creative, Inc. to create and maintain a website $4.7K
· Hired an auditor $15K, not quite sure who again no meeting minutes posted.
· At a meeting on 4/17/25 Shannon Roberts (Suwannee’s primary Grant Administrator) was selected as Director, salary to be negotiated, which was set at the May 7thmeeting of $125K plus benefits for a total of $199,083. Not quite sure what he will do other than collect a check, and help spend our money. There was a split vote of 3 to 2 to approve the compensation package.
· Workman’s comp insurance $$1.4K
· Average miscellaneous expenses approx. $400.00 month =$4,800 yearly
· With information available of the $500K from both counties $517,083K is committed of taxpayer money, and surely they will want much more from each this year just to survive. Rocky Ford stated at the 4/17/25 selection meeting we will need to get more money from each county at budget time.
If the goal is truly to save money then perhaps rather than hire outside consultants the authority could be using the resources currently available in each county such as: attorney, website already in use, accountants, auditors, etc. The key for me is without first doing a business plan, how do you make reasonable decisions. When asked about the business plan, the answer was it will be delayed until the rate study is complete sometime in August. To pay an administrator $200K to manage very little is not good business, and certainly not good use of taxpayer money.
When I ask questions about the Authority the general answer is this takes the politics out of it. I must be looking at something totally different County Commissioners. I have asked where the return on investment is, and the Chairman replied there is none but you have to be prepared to bring businesses into the area. My reply at what cost to the public. Both counties have previously been working on infrastructure at their business parks and have been successful receiving grants to accomplish that goal. Do we really need another layer of government to spend our money?
Here is the real kicker per the interlocal agreement section Xa.”It is the intention at this time of entering this agreement that upon further authorization and approval by each affected County, and approval of the Board itself, that the Board shall own and operate all combined water, wastewater, and reclaimed water system assets of the Counties in accordance with such rules and policies as it may adopt with the assistance of the Administrator. In the event such conveyance of ownership occurs, this Agreement may be revisited for purpose of consulting future Boards.”
This is a very short version of what has taken place in the last year, make your own decision what is really going on here with an Authority which the people have no control over spending our money with no return on investment in sight. If you agree with me contact your respective county commissioner from Columbia and Suwanee County and tell them to stop the Authority now and not fund any more of our money.
WayneF. Hannaka www.concernedcitizensofnorthfl.com
North Florida water and utilities authority
Concerned Citizens of North FL - Empowering Communities
North Florida Water Utility Authority: $150,000 a year plus a $51,000 yearly pension payment (plus) too much for an executive director for two Authority board members
May 9, 2025 8:15 pm | 7 min read
By Stew Lilker
In a rush: read the 1 minute version here.
SUWANNEE COUNTY, FL – $150,000 a year plus a $51,000 yearly pension payment (plus) was too much for an executive director for two Authority board members.
The struggling North Florida Water Utilities Authority met on May 7, 2025, in Live Oak for its regularly scheduled meeting. Among other things, the Authority was trying to figure out how much to pay its chosen executive director, who has no prior experience running or operating a utility.
As reported in mid April, the Authority had finally chosen a candidate for executive director: Shannon Roberts, a Suwannee County Administrator. Even though a monkey wrench was thrown into the works, the choice was never in doubt.
Earlier, on April 2, the Authority met to interview its two and only candidates: North Florida Water Utilities Authority: NFWUA Finally Has Candidates for Executive Director, But Are They Qualified?
During that meeting, Suwannee County employee, candidate Roberts's responses to written questions were made available: "Do you possess a degree in public administration, engineering, environmental science, or a closely related field? Please list degree type (e.g., B.S., M.S.) and area (e.g., Environmental Science). Please list the degree type. Do you possess any related licenses issued by the State of Florida or another State?"
Mr. Roberts answered that he had a BA in Psychology from the University of North Florida. Mr. Roberts said he had no related licenses but could obtain them "given the proper time and financial support."
During the April 2 meeting, NFWUA Chairman Rocky Ford established a negotiating committee. NFWUA vice-chair Franklin White (Suwannee County) nominated Columbia County Commissioner Tim Murphy to “negotiate for the board.” Chairman Ford asked if Mr. Murphy “had a problem with that.” He didn’t.
Commissioner White didn’t think it was proper for Suwannee County to be negotiating with its own employee.
The negotiating session was scheduled for April 30. On Saturday, April 26, Mr. Murphy, without any authority to cancel anything, canceled the negotiating session.
The meeting cancelation notice didn’t make it to the NFWUA website until recently.
Mr. Murphy left the NFWUA board and the Suwannee County Commissioners in the position to negotiate directly every detail of the contract with Mr. Roberts at its May 7 meeting.
How much is an executive director without
utility operational experience worth?
May 7:
North Florida Utility Authority Negotiates – It wasn’t pretty
Tim Murphy's cancelation of the negotiating session would have enabled many of the sticking points to have been either worked out or well-researched before the general meeting. They weren't.
The question before the NFWUA board: How much is an executive director without utility operational experience worth?
Shannon Roberts takes notes in the audience. He had his own ideas of his value.
Suwannee County's Shannon Roberts had his own ideas. Mr. Roberts filed documents with the Authority representing his research on how much he should be paid. He found salaries ranging from almost $300,000 to a low of 52,000. Mr. Roberts wrote that the average public utility executive compensation was $266,772 a year.
NFWUA has no customers, no assessets, no business plan, no strategic plan, a political insider book keeper, a clerk that can't keep the Authority minutes up-to-date, and no employees.
As a grant writer/manager in Suwannee County, Mr. Roberts's base salary is $97,953. His benefits would add about another 30%, making his employment package (cost to the taxpayers) worth approximately $127,000.
Mr. Roberts's initial salary request was $150,000, plus benefits, plus FRS status as senior management, which would add a $51,780 retirement payment from the taxpayers, many of whom don't earn $51,780 a year.
According to the US Census, the per capita income in
Suwannee County is $26,484; in Columbia County it is $28,030.
Mr. Roberts is requesting continuation in the Florida Retirement System (FRS). It is unclear if, at present, Mr. Roberts is included in the Senior Management Class of the FRS, although it is not likely.
The benefit for FRS senior management class is approximately 34%, while the FRS regular class rate is approximately 13%.
Were Mr. Roberts hired at $125,000, his requested senior management FRS payment would cost the taxpayers $42,500.
Columbia County's former Utility Director (classified as part-time) was budgeted for $45,728. His FRS retirement was in the regular class, and he actually supervised people, whereas the NFWUA has no employees.
After conversation about milestones and other things NFWUA board member Steven Dicks, made a motion to hire Mr. Roberts at $140,000. Ultimately, the motion died for lack of a second.
Moses Clepper. He said the proposed salary blew his mind.
Moses Clepper came to the microphone after Chairman Ford commented that there were not any constituents in the audience. Mr. Clepper introduced himself as a constituent of Suwanee County.
Mr. Clepper questioned both Mr. Roberts and Mr. Dicks salary thresholds and said they were too much. "The salary you're proposing blows my mind. It just absolutely blows my mind," he said.
Mr. Clepper was also a dissenting voice regarding Suwannee County's high praise of Mr. Roberts.
It is important to note that after two years of meetings of the Authority, in its various incarnations, it has no strategic plan, no business plan, no comprehensive list of utility assets, no up-to-date minutes, and barely a budget. While Suwannee County has provided a list of its utilities (it claims to have 16 customers (which are serviced by an outside contractor)), Columbia County has yet to provide a list of its assets or its customer base. Recently, Columbia County has outsourced its utility work, or at least most of it.
Chairman Ford reminded the board, "Mr. Dick's made a motion for 140," adding, "I thought about 130."
Commissioner Tim Murphy was recognized.
A thoughtful Commissioner Tim Murphy during the meeting. Although he screwed up the negotiations, he appears to be working hard to up his game, be recognized before speaking out, and doing his homework.
"I gotta agree with the gentleman… I reached out to five different plant operators with 15 years of experience or more. And, you know, these are the people that deal with the Shannons of the world… But, you know, I've got my constituents… 125 would be my max at this point. That's all I can support. And I really struggle with that."
Suwannee County’s Leo Mobley said, “I make a motion on the 125." Suwannee County’s Franklin seconded the motion.”
Commissioner White was recognized, “125 [$125,000], let's not be kidding ourselves here. There's more to it than this. There's retirement, there's insurance, there's a pickup truck, there's a lot, there's more perks than the 125… Around the corner, you're going to have to hire some more people to run this. Shannon, he's very capable, and I have no doubt in his ability, but at some point, he's going to get overrun, pretty quick. I think it's a lot to handle. It's a lot to put together. And so, I feel like the 125 is fair to start with, with a six-month evaluation and a twelve-month evaluation to raise his pay up to 135 at that point.”
Commissioner White continued, explaining that a schedule of goals should be included in the motion.
Commissioner Mobley amended his motion to include goals.
Commissioner Murphy asked the clerk to read back the motion. From the audience, the clerk's remarks were mostly incomprehensible.
Commissioner Rocky Ford (Columbia) had a little trouble speaking into the microphone, however, he ran a smooth meeting, except for allowing people to blurt out from the audience without being recognized. Here he is listening to Mr. Clepper.
Chairman Ford gave a rundown of goals. He said, “If y'all agree with them, this is kind of what I've come up with.” Mr. Ford mentioned the administration of water utility grants, all utility billing and collections for both counties, and implement the rate study. Mr. Ford added, "the final and last goal will be a transition of assets from the counties to the utilities."
A Tsunami Is Coming
Those in the know are waiting for the transfer of utilities and assets to the Authority. For the past year and then some, Columbia County has not been able to come up with, or at least acknowledge, its assets, their values, and the County's liabilities. The longer the County waits – the bigger the question mark.
There was more talk by Commissioner White about extending goals to 18 months.
While this meeting was to include finalizing the Shannon Roberts contract, it became just a negotiating session. Authority attorney Grady Williams told Mr. White that the board could get back to refining the contract once more of the details were worked out.
NFWUA attorney Grady Williams.
After another thirty minutes, Commissioner Murphy interrupted NFUWA Attorney Grady Williams, asking Shannon Roberts, “I just have to. I mean. You can solve this real quick. Is the salary acceptable at this point, Shannon?”
Mr. Roberts answered, "I don't think so."
Mr. Murphy withdrew his second.
Franklin White asked Mr. Roberts, “Would the 125 ($125,000) with the cap of the 150 ($150,000) with evaluations in between on a two-year basis, be acceptable to you?”
JD Curls, without being recognized, interrupted the meeting from the audience. Chairman Ford did not ask him to come to the microphone.
JD Curls. Mr. Curls seems to represent Gallagher insurance, although his association with Tyson Johnson's firm and who Mr. Curls represents was never explained. When Mr. Curls addressed the board the first time, he knew well enough to come to the podium. By the end of the meeting, Mr. Curls forgot his manners, blurting out from the audience.
Earlier in the meeting, Mr. Curls made unsubstantiated claims about attorney approvals for Shannon Roberts's being able to be insured by Suwannee County after he resigned and was hired by the Authority.
Mr. Curls said, "You guys have been all over the place today, so I'm not even sure where we're at based on where we started. It makes me reluctant because I'm not sure what things have changed underneath. Would it be possible to just have something reduced into writing so I can see it?"
Mr. Curls was previously invited to the negotiation session, which Commissioner Murphy canceled. These things could have been worked out there.
Commissioner White, the man who didn’t want to negotiate with Suwannee County’s employee came up with a new deal for Mr. Roberts.
Commissioner White said, “If we start you at 125 with a cap at 150 over twenty-four months, with evaluations every six months, plus all the benefits, is that something that you would entertain?"
Mr. White did not wait for an answer.
He continued, "I would make a motion, Mr. Chairman, for a $125,000 base salary with a $150,000 cap over two years, with the milestones outlined, but that you've given before and negotiated out in the contract, what those increases would be as those milestones are reached over those 24 months, that's what my motion is."
Shannon Roberts said, "I would entertain that."
Somebody seconded the motion. It was not clear who. There was some more conversation with the attorney.
Chairman Ford said, "I'm kind of wondering where we are all at right now.”
There was more talk about milestones. Grady Williams read from the utility charter.
Chairman Ford called for the vote.
Epilogue
After an hour and 30 minutes, the talking came to an end.
Commissioner Leo Mobley (Suwannee) has been a man of few words on the Authority. He has spent a lifetime in the beef business and knows how difficult making ends meet can be.
Chairman Ford, who just said, "I'm kind of wondering where we are all at right now," voted for the motion.
Vice Chair Franklin White, who had previously said he didn't want to negotiate with a Suwannee County employee, voted for the motion he negotiated.
Steven Dicks, the Columbia County resident on the board – there are no Suwannee County residents, voted along with Mr. White and Ford.
Commissioner Murphy (Columbia) and Commissioner Mobley (Suwannee) voted against.
After two years, this is all the NFWUA could come up with.
Correction: On Saturday, April 28, was corrected to Satruday, April 26.
North Florida water and utilities authority
Concerned Citizens of North FL - Empowering Communities
What is NFWUA really doing?
County OKs city running water at mega site
By JAMIE WACHTER on Friday, May 2, 2025Subhead
Council still to vote on two-year agreement.
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The agreement between Columbia County and the City of Lake City calls for the county funding $3.5 million toward the construction of a water line to the park, shown as the solid yellow line on a 2021 study performed by Jones Edmunds for the city. (COURTESY)
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Water flowing to the North Florida Mega Industrial Park from the City of Lake City cleared its first step Thursday.
The Columbia County Commission unanimously approved an interlocal agreement between the county and city on having the city provide potable water to the industrial park on the east side of Lake City.
The agreement, which is for two years with opportunities to extend it, will be amended to include clear language that any pipes laid inside the park will belong to whichever entity has the utility easement and call for quarterly true ups on the cost or revenue of providing the water between the two governments instead of monthly.
The agreement still needs to be approved by the Lake City Council.
Steve Brown, the city’s executive director of utilities, told the commission that city administration is fully committed to making the partnership work.
“We want to be the provider out there,” Brown said.
The approval of the agreement came after District 2 Commissioner Rocky Ford expressed concerns with a lack of certainty on what the true cost of the agreement would be to the county.
The county is obligated to spend $3.5 million on constructing a water main from the city’s Price Creek Water Treatment Plant, which is located between the park and Florida Gateway College, to the edge of the park. That funding will most likely be grant funding. The commission also unanimously directed County Manager David Kraus to seek modification of a grant with the Department of Environmental Protection of $5.716 million which came in a state appropriations last year toward constructing a water plant at the park to instead cover that water main.
Any cost beyond that on the water main would be the city’s responsibility.
“I think we need some reassurance where this money will come from to finish this project before we commit to a project,” Ford said since the basis of that $3.5 million cap came from an analysis performed by Jones Edmunds in 2021 that put the cost of a water line as between $1.62 million and $3.46 million.
“I think we all know $3.5 million is not going to cover this project that was estimated in 2021.”
Brown, though, said even with construction costs increasing since 2021 that he thought it would still be in the ballpark since there was such a wide range in that previous study. He also noted there are other factors — capacity needed, demand of the customers and how much the plant can pump out — that will impact the true cost as well.
The city and county will split the cost of installing lines inside the NFMIP.
“We’ve got to get a plan and stick to a plan,” said Ford, who had made a motion to wait until a workshop could be held May 22 at FGC with all the utility stakeholders in Columbia and Suwannee counties to get additional information. That motion died for lack of a second. “Right now I really don’t know what the plan is for utilities in the future for the county.
“We’re all over the board. We’re like a fish flopping around looking for a pond to get in.”
While Ford was concerned about what that cost would end up, District 3 Commissioner Robby Hollingsworth said it will be a cheaper option than the other avenue the county could take: continuing with drilling a well field near the Baker County line and then running distribution lines from that site to where the county would construct a water plant adjacent to its wastewater plant next to the Lake City Correctional Institution.
Tim Murphy, the District 5 commissioner and board chairman, added it will also expedite the process of having water available at the park.
Brown agreed.
“Will this put us in a shovel ready position? This will bring us to the closest point we’ve been since we discussed the North Florida Mega Industrial Park,” he said. “This will give us water and sewer.
“In the world of risk vs. reward, I think you stand to gain more than you stand to lose.”
Ford, though, also expressed concerns with the agreement calling for the two groups to split the cost — or revenue — generated by providing the water. He noted the county is still subsidizing its own utilities provided in Ellisville.
Kraus, though, said with the city already operating a water utility and providing water to customers, it is expected that there wouldn’t be a significant loss in providing water to someone at the park.
“If you say the city is already breaking even or making money on the rates they have, there’s no reason to assume that also wouldn’t apply in the industrial park,” Kraus said.
North Florida water and utilities authority
Concerned Citizens of North FL - Empowering Communities
Utility board debating Helfenberger, Roberts
By JAMIE WACHTER on Wednesday, April 2, 2025Subhead
Meeting called April 17 to select director.
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Former Lake City Manager Joe Helfenberger answers a question during Tuesday’s North Florida Water Utilities Authority meeting. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)
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The North Florida Water Utilities Authority’s decision on its first director is down to a former Lake City manager and a current member of Suwannee County’s administration.
The NFWUA interviewed Joe Helfenberger and Shannon Roberts as part of a nearly three-hour meeting Wednesday and will meet again April 17 to decide which applicant to turn over operations of the fledgling utility to.
Dan Hartley, the third applicant for the position, pulled his name from consideration Tuesday night according to Columbia County Manager David Kraus. Kraus said Hartley, a field rep for U.S. Congresswoman Kat Cammack, dropped out due to interest in a different position.
“We have two very qualified people,” said Rocky Ford, the NFWUA chairman and Columbia County commissioner. “I think you both bring a lot to the table.”
Helfenberger pointed to his 36 years of experience as a city manager in Wisconsin, Iowa and Florida as what would make him a good fit to head up the local joint utility effort. Helfenberger said during that time he helped oversee numerous utility construction projects as well as starting a water system at one stop in Wisconsin.
“This wouldn’t be my first rodeo,” Helfenberger said. “I already know the obstacles you run into and how you dealt with them.”
Helfenberger’s last stop as a city manager was in Lake City, which occurred from 2018 to 2021. Since then he has worked as a Realtor in Jacksonville.
However, Helfenberger told the board Wednesday that he is looking for a bigger challenge, which led to his interest in the director job for the Authority.
Ford and Tim Murphy, another Columbia County commissioner, though, were curious just how much of that challenge Helfenberger was ready to tackle. Murphy asked Helfenberger if he could handle trying to obtain grants and administer the grants without any staff to assist him. Currently the NFWUA has no employees.
Helfenberger, though, said that staff was necessary, even if it meant a contract with Columbia and Suwannee counties to use some of their staff at first.
“No, I’d need a staff,” Helfenberger said, although he labeled his work ethic as “whatever it takes to get the job done.”
Roberts, who has been intimately involved with the creation of the Authority as part of Suwannee County’s administration, said that has helped him know what the board is looking for out of the utility. He also said he brings both government experience from his eight-plus years working for Suwannee County but also experience from the private sector to the job. Roberts had previously owned his own IT company in North Carolina.
“There’s a lot of complexities with getting a utility off the ground,” he said. “I think I have a lot of skills that align with that.
“I’ve been working on this since the beginning. I understand, from the time that I’ve spent, what the board wants having lived it, having talked about it for more than a year.”
To Roberts, the biggest challenge facing the NFWUA moving forward is trying to stay on top of the barriers to consumptive use and how it impacts the Authority and the local counties to make sure it can keep up with growth and demand.
But he said the key is the Authority has to continue moving forward to make sure economic development can be supported and new jobs can come in to the communities.
“That’s what will be the death of us,” Roberts said of not having utilities to attract businesses. “That’s what creates the doom gloom.”
When asked by Vice Chair Franklin White, a Suwannee County commissioner, about what kind of help he’d need, Roberts said he doesn’t know right now. But he said he could envision the need for another person or two within two years depending on growth.
On Wednesday, both Roberts and Helfenberger said they want a salary that would be comparable to those of the two county managers/administrators. Roberts added he wanted it to be in line with what the utility, as a start-up, could handle.
Helfenberger, as part of his application, had said he wanted a salary “similar to my highest earnings.” He made approximately $120,000 as the Lake City manager.
Background checks will be performed in the next two weeks on Helfenberger and Roberts, Ford said, and the board will then vote on its choice at that April 17 meeting, which will be held at the TDC conference room at Duval Place, starting at 10:30 a.m
North Florida water and utilities authority
Concerned Citizens of North FL - Empowering Communities
North Florida Water Utility Authority: NFWUA Finally Has Candidates for Executive Director, But Are They Qualified?
April 2, 2025 8:10 am | 3 min read📷 By Stew LilkerCOLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The North Florida Water Utility Authority (NFWUA) finally has applicants for the position of executive director. None of the candidates meet the listed minimum qualifications.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS as stated in the job posting:
"Graduate of an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor's degree in public administration, engineering, environmental sciences, or a related discipline. Must have ten (10) years of management experience directly related to water resource management and/or public water supply. Minimum five (5) years of experience in administration of a utility system or Department or agency. Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to secure a valid Florida driver's license at the time of employment. Water/Wastewater licensure or certification is preferred."
Questionnaire – Along with the requirement to file a resume with the Columbia County Clerk of the Courts, a questionnaire was included to be filled out. Question:
Do you possess a degree in public administration, engineering, environmental science, or a closely related field? Please list degree type (e.g., B.S., M.S.) and area (e.g., Environmental Science). Please list the degree type. Do you possess any related licenses issued by the State of Florida or another State?
Dan Hartley: A.A. Degree, Florida Gateway College, 2023; licensed nurse 1995 to present.Joe Helfenberger: M.A. in Public Policy and Administration, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1984; B.S. in Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 1980; Real Estate Sales Associate, Florida LicenseShannon Roberts: BA Psychology, University of North FL; Mr. Roberts said he has no related licenses, but could obtain them "given the proper time and financial support.”Question:
How many years of experience do you have in utilities, water, wastewater, utility infrastructure, operations, preventative maintenance, or other closely related fields? Describe your experience in utilities, water, and wastewater, or other closely related fields.
Dan Hartley: Mr. Hartley wrote: “I have 22+ years as a nurse and over seven years working in government relations.” Mr. Hartley explained his expertise in governmental relations and working with governors, senators, and folks in Congress.Joe Helfenberger: Mr. Helfenberger wrote that he “had extensive experience in municipal management, which includes overseeing water, wastewater, sewer, and other utility infrastructure projects.” Mr. Helfenberger explained he had thirty-six years of experience managing and overseeing water and wastewater operations.Shannon Roberts: Mr. Roberts wrote, “I have nearly 8 years of related utility infrastructure experience since | began working for Suwannee County. Mr. Roberts provided a list of utility projects that he has been involved with since his employment with Suwannee County. However, it is not clear how he was involved with those projects.Question:
How many years of supervisory experience do you have? Explain.
Dan Hartley: Mr. Hartley wrote that he had more than twenty years of supervisory experience in the field of nursing and also supervised employees while working for legislators.Joe Helfenberger: Mr. Helfenberger wrote, “I have over 36 years of supervisory experience in various leadership roles, including City Manager, Village Administrator, County Manager, and Municipal Consultant. Mr. Helfenberger “oversaw teams ranging from 100 to 500+ employees, managing budgets up to $137 million.”Shannon Roberts: Mr. Roberts wrote that he had 25 years of supervisory experience. He elaborated, “My supervisory roles were established in different industries that include Healthcare, IT Consulting, and Technology Companies as a Director, Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer.” Mr. Roberts wrote he was responsible for “budgets as large as $100 mil.”Question:
List any certifications you have related to the functions and duties of this position.
Mr. Hartley said he had none.Mr. Helfenberger gave his Florida real estate license and Ninja selling certification.Mr. Roberts had none, and again said he would obtain them “given the proper time and financial support.”Final question:
What are your salary and benefits requirements?
Dan Hartley requires $80k and benefits.Joe Helfenberger wrote that he is seeking a salary “in the range similar to my highest earnings, which I can discuss in person.” Mr. Helfenberger was earning approximately $120k when he left Lake City. His earnings as a real estate agent are unknown.Shannon Roberts: Mr. Roberts did not provide a desired salary, but wants to remain in the Florida Retirement System "with an executive level contribution rate."
Epilogue
📷 Dale Williams at the most recent NFWUA meeting.In today's world, many utility authorities, as well as public works departments, require their applicants to have PE (Professional Engineer) degrees. There are approximately 1 million Licensed Professional Engineers in the United States.One has to wonder why, after almost a year of searching, a search originally orchestrated by North Florida Professional Services and its lobbyist Dale Williams (Mr. Williams claims not to be a lobbyist) only three candidates applied for the job. They are all local and do not meet the educational requirements and other requirements of the job description
North Florida water and utilities authority
Concerned Citizens of North FL - Empowering Communities
FWUA in search of director. Suwannee’s Roberts also interviewing today for director.ImageSmall Image📷Hartley (from left), Helfenberger and RobertsBodyA former Lake City manager and a U.S. Congresswoman’s field rep are two of the three individuals vying to be the first director of the North Florida Water Utilities Authority.Shannon Roberts, Suwannee County’s administrative associate, will also interview with the NFWUA board at its 9:30 a.m. meeting today at Duval Place in the TDC conference room, 971 W. Duval Street. Joining Roberts are Joe Helfenberger, who was Lake City’s manager from 2018 to 2021, and Dan Hartley, a field representative for Kat Cammack.Columbia County Manager David Kraus said after discussions with Suwannee County Administrator Greg Scott, all three have been invited to interview with the NFWUA board Wednesday.“We’ll see if they show up,” Kraus said.The three applicants — Helfenberger applied Monday, the last day the position was open — are three more than the start-up utility authority received during its first search for a director last fall. That led to a renewed search in the hopes that not looking for someone around the holidays would net interest.Kraus said Tuesday that there still are factors working against the NFWUA from drawing significant interest, especially its fledgling status. The authority was created just last year and currently has no staff.“It’s a very difficult position to fill because it’s a new authority,” Kraus said, noting he had discussions with a fourth person who was interested in the position but, ultimately, did not apply. “Everyone is kind of, ‘is this a real job? Is it not a real job? Is it secure?’ All the things you would expect.“And it’s tough. Doing a start-up job is tough. Not everybody wants to do a start-up job. There’s a lot this person is going to have to do and a lot they’re going to have to learn. It’s a big learning curve.”Hartley, who has worked for Cammack the past two years, was previously a district rep for State Rep. Chuck Brannan for more than four years and also has more than 20 years of experience as a nurse.“I feel that though my experience isn’t necessarily in water management or utilities, I bring a unique set of skills to the table that can be utilized to accomplish the goals you have for bringing this idea to fruition,” Hartley said in a letter with his application. “I am eager to learn as much as I can about this industry and look forward to the challenge.”According to his application, Hartley is seeking at least an $80,000 annual salary and benefits to become the director.Following his three years as the Lake City manager, Helfenberger has worked for more than three years as a Realtor with the Watson Realty Corporation in Jacksonville. He has previously worked as a municipal consultant and as a city or village administrator for a handful of towns in Wisconsin, Iowa and Florida for a total of 36 years.According to his application, Helfenberger said he has “extensive” experience in overseeing water, wastewater, sewer and other utility infrastructure projects.Helfenberger is seeking a salary “similar to my highest earnings.” He made approximately $120,000 as the Lake City manager.For the past seven years, Roberts has worked for Suwannee County, helping secure grant funding for projects and also helping plan and administer those utility projects, including building water and wastewater plants and transmission and collection systems. He previously owned his own IT company in North Carolina for two years.In his application, Roberts said his experience with utilities was “launched out of necessity to support economic development and the community.”Roberts, who has played an active role in Suwannee County’s involvement in the NFWUA including the discussions about the director position and salary, said in the application that he looks forward to a “conversation to finalize” that figure.
North Florida water and utilities authority
Concerned Citizens of North FL - Empowering Communities
Utility rate study key to Authority’s launch By JAMIE WACHTER jwachter@lakecityreporter.com LIVE OAK — The North Florida Water Utilities Authority agreed to a deal that it hopes gets the startup authority up and running. During its Tuesday meeting at the Suwannee County Judicial Annex, the NFWUA board unanimously approved to pay Raftelis, a North Carolina-based company, $130,000 to do a rate study for the Authority. According to Raftelis Senior Vice President Henry Thomas, the company’s eight-month rate study would produce three different studies: an independent forecast for the utility rates in Columbia County, an independent rate forecast for Suwannee County and a rate forecast for the counties combined under the Authority. “You’re doing this because it’s going to benefit both counties and you’ll be able to meet the growing needs of the future you’re facing,” Thomas said. Shannon Roberts, a member of Suwannee County’s administration who helps oversee NFWUA operations currently, recommended to the board that it move forward with the agreement with Raftelis. Roberts said he believed the rate study would provide the board with invaluable information that it needed to move forward, adding the rate study will provide the business plan needed for the Authority to succeed. “This will help the train leave the station,” Roberts said. “We have to hire the conductor, but this is part of what will help the train leave the station.” Roberts added he viewed the rate study as a short-term guide for the Authority to follow. He said beyond 3-5 years there were still far too many unknowns — grant funding the counties or Authority may receive to expand utility offerings, other counties possibly joining — for it to be accurate too far out. Thomas agreed that with the numerous projects both counties are currently working on, the overall cost is likely to evolve. He added that the most important portion of the company’s work over the next eight months for the Authority will be the information it gathers from the individual counties and guidance on the direction the board and county commissions want to go. “We can help you,” he said. “We’ve done this quite a bit.” While based in North Carolina, Raftelis has done similar rate studies previously in Florida, including for Newberry as well as Tampa and Jacksonville. Thomas pointed to those studies as proof that the company can adequately perform the work the Authority wants done after at-large board member Steven Dicks asked about its ability to handle such a large geographic footprint. “I think we can handle the geographic size of the project no problem,” Thomas said.
f By JAMIE WACHTER jwachter@lakecityreporter.com LIVE OAK — The North Florida Water Utilities Authority — and both Columbia and Suwannee counties’ administrations — want help sooner than later. While the NFWUA’s search for an executive director continues — it’s board agreed in December to keep that search open through the end of March — the fledgling regional authority could use a staff member to assist in getting agendas prepared for monthly meetings as well as assist NFWUA Attorney Grady Williams in providing information to get the authority up and running. During Tuesday’s meeting at the Suwannee County Judicial Annex, the board unanimously authorized Columbia County Manager David Kraus and Suwannee County Administrator Greg Scott in preparing an advertisement and begin searching for an administrative staff hire. “What you may need long term in an executive director may not be what you need in the person that starts up the company,” Kraus said. “You need somebody to do the start-up work. “You need somebody who is going to take care of the details to make this get up off the ground and run.” Currently Kraus and Scott as well as Columbia County Projects Development Manager Staz Guntek and Suwannee County administrative staff member Shannon Roberts handle NFWUA business. That work is on top of their regular duties for their respective counties. Scott said it isn’t really fair to either county — or especially the Authority — to continue juggling the duties, adding county staff members all have full plates in handling county business. “Somebody to focus on the Authority business and not have the Authority business be an afterthought when we clear our calendars at the end of the day,” Kraus said. Scott added that the hire — there was no title given for what the position would be — could either be someone starting a career or winding a career down. Franklin White, a Suwannee County commissioner and the vice chairman for the Authority, said he was fine with not hiring a director as quickly if there was someone else that could do the daily work that needs to be done. He added he envisioned the hire could eventually play a much larger role in the success of the Authority, possibly even becoming the director. NFWUA Board Chairman Rocky Ford, a Columbia County commissioner, earlier said even when the board hires a director, that person would still need help in overseeing the Authority’s business. “We really need that position right now,” Ford said, adding that hire would answer until a director is named to the county administrators and to the board. LEGISLATIVE ASKS The NFWUA board also unanimously approved a project from each county to pitch to the respective legislative delegations for funding. Columbia County’s legislative delegation — Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) and Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-Macclenny) — meet at 9 a.m. today at Florida Gateway College. Suwannee County’s legislators — Rep. Jason Shoaf (R-Port St. Joe) and Sen. Corey Simon (R-Tallahassee) — meet at 1 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Judicial Annex. The NFWUA plans to request funding for a pump station expansion on the south side of the Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 441 interchange and force main for the wastewater system in Ellisville as the Columbia County project. In Suwannee County, the Authority is seeking $1.9 million in funding for a water main extension and a storm water project at the Catalyst Site
North Florida water and utilities authority
Concerned Citizens of North FL - Empowering Communities
Recharge ‘priority issue’ for NFWUA
By JAMIE WACHTER on Wednesday, February 5, 2025SubheadBoard wants state officials to provide guidance, plan.ImageBodyConcerned about its ability to take care of future projects, the North Florida Water Utilities Authority wants answers from state officials on water availability.During its regular meeting Wednesday, the NFWUA board expressed concerns about how local governments, and the authority, will be able to create recharge projects that would lead to additional permits to pull more water from the aquifer. The board is now hoping to have representatives from the Suwannee River Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection at its April meeting to provide guidance.“They don’t really have any suggestions on recharge either, other than we need to do it,” Columbia County Manager David Kraus said about DEP.Those concerns came forward during an update from Kraus on the county’s current utility projects. During that update, Kraus mentioned he and Columbia County Commissioners met with DEP officials recently in Tallahassee to discuss the possibility of utilizing Kirby pit for a recharge project.That meeting did not result in much confidence, locally, that the project would get backing from the state.“This has to be a priority issue,” Commissioner and NFWUA Chairman Rocky Ford said.Kraus said the county was told to apply for a grant in order to do a study on that project.Tim Murphy, a Columbia County commissioner who was sworn in as an NFWUA board member Wednesday, said he thinks that study would be a waste.“Nobody has a plan,” he said. “I understand you have to throw money at this to come up with a viable (plan), but the Kirby pit thing, I’m not voting for any grant to do any research. They’re not going to go for it. It was pretty clear.“This will slow down economic development in Florida in my opinion.”Suwannee County officials said they have not developed any potential projects toward recharge.Neither has the City of Lake City, according to Executive Director of Utilities Steve Brown. Brown did say the city is nearing capacity on its consumptive use permit and would then be stuck without some type of recharge.But that also creates another issue, Brown said. The city is landlocked without annexation and is therefore limited on where it could do a recharge project anyway.“We’re stuck without the county,” Brown said.Ford agreed.He said the issue is one that all the surrounding counties and municipalities will face and one that may need to be tackled together. He also requested that both the City of Lake City and City of Live Oak be invited to attend the April meeting as well.“This is going to be an issue for everybody,” he said.Greg Bailey, the president of North Florida Professional Services, said he believed it is an issue that the local officials should bring up to their legislators. He also said that should include the fact that nobody is providing much direction on how local governments can create meaningful recharge.“They need to be aware of it,” Bailey said, adding Suwannee County currently is in better shape on that front than Columbia because it currently has more capacity left on its CUP. “It’s bigger than one entity. This is what you’re going to be faced with: the Utility Authority will get to a point where it tells Columbia County or Suwannee County don’t bring in a business because we can’t serve them.”DIRECTOR SEARCHWith a few applications starting to sprinkle in for the Authority’s executive director position, the board directed Kraus and Suwannee County Administrator Greg Scott to begin evaluating those applications and be ready to provide a recommendation to the board in April.The deadline to submit applications is currently set for March 31. The board meets April 2.Stephen Dicks, the at-large member of the board, suggested they leave the deadline open through March and then try to act quickly in April, if there are quality applicants. Kraus said there currently are at least two applicants.“This is probably the most important decision we’ll make,” Dicks said.The board also plans to invite applicants to the April meeting for interviews.
North Florida water and utilities authority
Concerned Citizens of North FL - Empowering Communities
What is NFWUA Really DOING comment by Wayne Hannaka
County OKs city operating NFMIP sewer plant
By JAMIE WACHTER on Friday, February 7, 2025SubheadTwo-year deal calls for sharing revenue, loss.Image
- 📷Columbia County Manager David Kraus said the partnership with the City of Lake City on operating the sewer plant at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park will ‘take some of that burden off’ as the two will split revenues or losses for the next two years. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)
BodyColumbia County’s wastewater plant at the North Florida Mega Industrial Park is nearing completion.When it comes online in the next few weeks, the City of Lake City will be operating the plant, which can potentially treat up to 1.5 million gallons per day.During its regular meeting Thursday, the Columbia County Commission unanimously approved a two-year contract to have the city operate the plant. The two entities will share in any revenue or loss from the plant during that time.“That will take some of that burden off,” County Manager David Kraus said.Kraus told the commissioners that the new plant will begin being seeded in the next week or two. The city plans to divert flow from the Lake City Correctional Facility to the new plant instead of its existing plants when it is ready to operate. The county will operate the spray fields.The plant will not start treating leachate at the plant for at least six months as “bugs settle,” according to the agreement.At the end of the two-year agreement with the city, Kraus said the board will then have to decide the future of the sewer plant. It could be turned over to the North Florida Water Utilities Authority to operate, it could be given to the city to operate or the county could choose to operate the plant itself.The board also agreed to another deal with the city.The city has been interested in 34.36 acres of county-owned property on State Road 100 being annexed into the city.The board unanimously agreed to voluntarily annex that property into the city once the city finishes placing a master water meter on U.S. Highway 90 East that would provide city water to the NFMIP until the county finished its own water plant. The master meter would allow the county to pay the city for all the water that came through that meter and then would handle the water from that point on.Kraus said the city wants that property inside the city limits so they can continue stacking contiguous properties until they reach the city-owned Lake City Gateway Airport so it can be annexed.COPPOCK, SIMMONS APPOINTED TO EDABThe county’s Economic Development Advisory Board will have a familiar face sitting on it once again.But it’s not former County Commissioner Ron Williams.During Thursday’s meeting, the commission voted against appointing Williams, who had served as a commissioner for 43 years before losing his latest re-election bid in November, by a 3-2 vote. Rocky Ford, the current EDAB chairman, and Robby Hollingsworth voted for Williams’ appointment.After that failed vote to appoint Williams and Angela Coppock, the Columbia County School District’s director of Career and Technical Education, District 1 Commissioner Kevin Parnell made the motion to appoint Coppock and Jeffrey Simmons, a longtime member of the board. Parnell defeated Williams in the November election.That appointment passed by an unanimous vote.Before Ford made the motion to have Coppock and Williams serve on the economic development board, Parnell asked Kraus for additional information on the board’s purpose.Kraus said the board is used to help vet potential businesses interested in relocating to the county and makes recommendations to the county commission on any types of incentives the county may provide to bring those companies in.“So you need to be knowledgeable and kind of have a vision for the future of Columbia County,” Parnell said.County Attorney Joel Foreman said it is important to have a diverse group serve on the board since they all bring different viewpoints and backgrounds to the table.“Those people do the heavy lifting on these economic development projects,” Foreman said. “These folks need to have a good base of experience and come from different places in the community so they bring that stakeholder perspective to those meetings.“We always get questions we never anticipated because of the diversity of people on that board.”On that note, Kraus said he believed it would be good to have a school district member serve on the board. There has never been a member of the district in that role. He added that sometimes interested companies have questions about the local schools and that representation could help answer those queries.Simmons, who is retired from a career with Florida Power & Light, has served on the economic development board “since its evolution as the IDA” and helped to develop the Chamber Business and Economic Development Board.