SOUTH WALTON MOSQUITO AND STORMWATER DISTRICT
House Bill #
· This local bill creates an independent special district, the South Walton Mosquito and Stormwater District, over the current boundaries of the South Walton County Mosquito Control District.
· There is a need because the existing South Walton County Mosquito Control District's ditches, constructed for the purpose of mosquito control, are also being used for stormwater/drainage purposes.
· The District would be governed by a 5-member governing board and have a maximum millage rate of 10 mills, which is the same rate that the South Walton County Mosquito Control District currently has the authority to levy.
· The electors will vote on whether they want the new District in a special election or in a 2022 election.
· If the District is approved, to avoid duplication of services, the South Walton County Mosquito Control District would be dissolved, and all assets and liabilities would transfer to the new District.
WHY A NEW DISTRICT?
· The need for the new district is due to the mosquito control ditches being used for stormwater/drainage purposes, which has:
o increased maintenance and operation costs;
o reduced the ability of the ditches to function for their created purpose --- mosquito control; and
o increased the rate of discharge of stormwater into the bay.
· The existing South Walton County Mosquito Control District does not have the ability to use mosquito control revenues for stormwater/drainage services.
o Meaning, even though its canals are used for stormwater conveyance purposes, it cannot fully evaluate the impacts occurring to them as a result of stormwater.
· Creating a new independent special district with authority to provide both mosquito and stormwater services will allow the community and the Choctawhatchee Bay to be better served.
o Ditches can be properly and effectively managed for both mosquito control and stormwater activities.
o The new district will be able to assess flooding and environmental needs in South Walton County.
o The new district will be able to develop and implement structural and non-structural best management practices to improve water quality and drainage needs.
WHAT DOES THE LOCAL BILL DO?
· This local bill creates an independent special district, the South Walton Mosquito and Stormwater District (District), over the current boundaries of the South Walton County Mosquito Control District, contingent on the approval of the District’s electors at either a special election in 2021 or a 2022 general election.
o Information regarding the existing mosquito control district:
§ Approximately 127 square miles or 81,280 acres;
§ Shoreline: 67 miles of Choctawhatchee Bay/26 miles of the Gulf of Mexico; and
§ 29 miles of 44 separate ditch segments of mosquito control ditches.
· If the District is approved at referendum by the electors within the boundaries of the South Walton County Mosquito Control District, the South Walton County Mosquito Control District is dissolved.
o Information regarding the existing mosquito control district:
§ An independent special district created pursuant to chapter 390, Florida Statutes, 1949, and approved at referendum on May 26, 1964, with a maintenance tax rate of 10 mills.
§ Current millage rate is less than 0.3 mills.
· The local bill provides all the charter requirements required by chapter 189, F.S.
· The District will be governed by a 5-member elected board.
· The District will be granted the authority to levy up to 10 mills for mosquito and stormwater purposes.
§ First 5 years: no more than 3.75 mills.
§ 5-10 years: no more than 6.25 mills.
§ 10-15 years: no more than 8.25 mills.
§ After 15 years: no more than 10 mills.
o The District must comply with all other statutory requirements including TRIM notices, roll back, and voting requirements.
· All assets, liabilities, and employees are transferred from the South Walton County Mosquito Control District to the District.
· The local bill does not eliminate County authority….the District gets to help with stormwater improvements.
WHY IS STORMWATER AN ISSUE FOR THE
SOUTH WALTON COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT?
· FDOT, new and existing development, and County roads’ stormwater conveyances are connected to the mosquito control ditches, but flood control and water quality planning is not integrated.
· New developments obtaining environmental resource permits (ERPs) from NWFWMD and FDEP to discharge stormwater into mosquito control ditches do not interface with the boots on the ground Mosquito Control District staff.
o County ordinance requires 100-year storm event to discharge into a mosquito ditch, yet the District’s field surveys indicate several ditches are at or have exceeded capacity.
o As residential and commercial development continues to occur, there is an increase in imperviousness and direct connections into the system. This means when it rains more water discharges into the ditches and the Choctawhatchee Bay faster.
· Most of the stormwater from FDOT and the County stormwater systems are conveyed to the South Walton County Mosquito Control District’s ditches and then is discharged into the Choctawhatchee Bay.
· Segments of the mosquito control ditch system need an engineering study to:
o mitigate existing flooding;
o identify ditch improvements to allow for the ability to accept more stormwater and manage blow outs and erosion; and
o provide water quality treatment.
WHAT HAPPENS IF NOTHING IS DONE?
· The County is assessing five locations that they are monitoring to try and determine where most of the pollution is affecting the Choctawhatchee Bay.
· New development will continue, and more discharge points will be permitted into the South Walton County Mosquito District.
· The South Walton County Mosquito District will continue to have no authority to express concerns regarding ERPs or County permits.
· The South Walton County Mosquito District will continue to have no financial ability to provide necessary improvements to ditch system resulting from increased stormwater volumes.
· Increased stormwater volume into the Choctawhatchee Bay means increased pollutant loads.