A LETTER FROM THE FLORIDA KEYS AQUEDUCT AUTHORITY

Iwanted to take this opportunity to update you on the water situation that we are experiencing here in the Keys. As you know, we recently endured three very significant breaks in our system. Following the third break, we all suffered a complete loss of water, or at the very least, significant drops in pressure.

All of our leaks have now been repaired and service has been restored. However, all of us are still seeing reduced pressures at the tap. I am going to attempt to explain what is occurring and what you can expect going forward.

mandy@keysweekly.com

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last month reappointed two members to the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) board of directors. Richard Toppino and Cara Higgins were reappointed to four-year terms.

Two weeks after the reappointment, Jolynn Reynolds, a former aqueduct authority employee and the ex-wife of its former executive director, Jim Reynolds, filed a lawsuit against the Florida Keys’ water company.

In the March 10 lawsuit, Jolynn Reynolds claims Cara Higgins “used her position on the aqueduct authority board to act in favor of her own personal interests and to retaliate against anyone who opposed her or attempted to bring her misconduct to light.”

The lawsuit alleges that Higgins, who has been in a relationship with the plaintiff’s ex-husband, Jim Reynolds, since the Reynoldses separated, contributed to the end of her marriage and used her position on the FKAA board to help Jim Reynolds’ private company secure contracts with the FKAA involving inspection services for the new FKAA headquarters building in Key West.

Higgins told the Florida Commission on Ethics more than a year prior to the lawsuit that she had abstained from voting on any and all matters related to Jim Reynolds’ company and any contracts potentially awarded to it. The claims levied in Jolynn Reynolds’ lawsuit are the same eight allegations she filed in earlier ethics complaints against Higgins. All eight allegations were dismissed by the Florida Commission on Ethics.

In July 2022, the Florida Commission on Ethics “found no probable cause on eight allegations of violations of the ethics laws,” against Higgins, according to documents from the state commission.

“(HIggins) is a public officer who is involved in a dating relationship with a vendor of her agency. The relationship was disclosed to the (FKAA) Board…. (Higgins’) actions seemed reasonable and in the best interests of FKAA and the taxpayers,” wrote Elizabeth Miller, advocate for the Commission on Ethics, who investigated all of JoLynn Reynolds’ allegations against Higgins.

When reached by the Keys Weekly on March 28, Higgins said, “The Ethics Commission reviewed the numerous allegations made, performed an extensive investigation and found no evidence whatsoever to support any of it. The investigator did however find that my actions were not only reasonable, but also in the best interest of the FKAA. I will not comment on the rehashing of already refuted accusations. My focus remains on moving forward with the FKAA on improvements to our infrastructure, fiscal responsibility and service to our ratepayers. This is an exciting time for the FKAA. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve another term with our current Board and with Mr. Veliz at the helm.”

Greg Veliz, the current executive director of FKAA, told the Keys Weekly last week he cannot comment on pending litigation.

No hearings had been scheduled for the lawsuit as of March 28.

We have customarily pumped between 23 and 26 million gallons per day out of our Florida City location. Prior to COVID, our levels were closer to 19 to 21 million gallons a day. The demands on our system have continued to increase. We have known for some time that our transmission main that runs 130 miles from Florida City to Key West was in desperate need of replacing. Those of you that travel U.S. 1 more regularly have seen that the work has already begun.

The pipe, in its current condition, is simply not able to support the volume of water or the pressures required to move it, therefore we have been forced to make reductions.

Despite the reduced output from Florida City, we have been able to make gains in our water tanks that are spread throughout our system. These tanks hold reserve water stores so that if there is a break, we can continue to serve a majority of our customers until repairs are completed. By our third and final leak, we had exhausted our reserve supply, and that was why we were unable to supply water throughout the repair.

Unfortunately, despite the restoration of our reserves, we do not feel confident that our pipes can continue to handle 23-26 million gallons per day, so we have limited our output to 22 million gallons per day. In order to achieve these reductions and continue to serve all of you, we have had to reduce pressures at our master taps. This is why you are seeing pressures lower than those to which you have become accustomed. I apologize if these reductions in pressures have proven problematic for some of you, but we are making decisions that we believe will allow us to continually serve you, even if it is at lower levels.

We are continuing to make adjustments and get you back to the levels of pressure you have come to expect. I wish I could tell you that this will be a quick fix or even a temporary inconvenience, but I cannot. Rest assured, we are doing our very best and meeting daily to figure ways to better serve you. We thank you for your patience and your assistance in our conservation efforts.

— Gregory W. Veliz, executive director