MARK SCHUMANN
According to Vero Beach Water & Sewer Utility Director Robert Bolton, it will cost an estimated $34 million to build a new waste water treatment plant. According to Bolton, an additional $1.25 million would be needed to demolish the existing plant, located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Indian River Boulevard and 17th Street. Bolton’s estimates were presented in a memorandum to City Council members dates Feb. 24.
According to Bolton’s projections, from concept and design to completion the project would same 72 months.
The cost of building a new waste water treatment plant, a move necessary to make the City’s central waterfront available for commercial development or other uses, would presumably be born by utility customers. Some have argued that since the current waste water treatment plant does not impose an environmental threat to the Lagoon, the cost of demolishing it and replacing it with a new one should be paid, not by water and sewer customers, but by those who would seek to use the property for other purposes.
The City Council last week agreed to engage the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council in facilitating a community-wide discussion about how best to develop the City’s waterfront property north and south of the Alma Lee Loy Bridge. With the inevitable decommissioning of the power plant, many community leaders see an opportunity to change and improve the appearance of Vero Beach’s waterfront.
Indian River Guardian 
I recall former City Manager John Little’s presentation to the City Council several months ago. His premise was that moving this facility was an unnecessary expense and not needed. The only reason to do so is that it is unsightly to those living on the beach area.as they travel east on the Alma Lee Loy Bridge