St. Pete Beach Spends $1.5 Million to Lift Sewer Stations Above Flood Zone

St. Pete Beach commissioners approved a $1.5 million plan on Tuesday to upgrade three sewage lift stations. The projects aim to keep wastewater moving during future storms by raising electrical equipment and installing backup generators. The work addresses failures that left residents without service for weeks after Hurricane Milton in 2024.

The approved contracts cover Lift Station 7 at Belle Vista Triangle Park, Lift Station 10 near Corey Avenue, and Lift Station 4 near Pass-a-Grille Marina. Construction is scheduled to finish by July 2027. Public Services Director Camden Mills explained that the new structures will stand between 13 and 14 feet tall. This height places critical controls above the base flood elevation to prevent storm surge from damaging the systems again.

The city is funding these improvements through its wastewater utility. Individual project costs are estimated at $514,000 for the Belle Vista station, $541,000 for the station near Corey Avenue, and $500,000 for the Pass-a-Grille site. A large share of these expenses covers flood mitigation measures designed to protect the infrastructure from water damage.

Residents in Belle Vista spent months negotiating the placement of the new structure near their neighborhood entrance. Greg Premer, a local resident, told commissioners that the community was unhappy with adding a large structure that he compared to the size of a garage. Despite the complaints, Premer acknowledged the work was necessary for the broader community. The city selected the current location to avoid $160,000 in additional costs for moving underground utilities.

Commissioners debated whether to fund neighborhood beautification requests with public money. Mayor Scott Tate suggested that spending $30,000 on improvements like fencing and landscaping was reasonable. Commissioner Jon Maldonado argued that amenities unrelated to the station's operation should not use utility funds. He suggested that voluntary contributions from the neighborhood could cover those costs. The board agreed to revisit the beautification requests in June 2027.

At the Pass-a-Grille site, officials are addressing access concerns for the nearby marina. The station sits in the public right of way at the end of 20th Avenue, between The Wharf restaurant and the marina. City staff proposed removing fencing and adjusting the curb to prevent collisions with the marina's boat lift. Maldonado supported these changes, noting that the station must remain safe and operational for surrounding businesses.

The city is also maintaining its wider wastewater infrastructure. As of September, officials reported that they had cleaned and inspected 98.5% of the city's wastewater pipes and 85% of its manholes. These efforts help identify maintenance problems and plan for necessary repairs across the system.