By Linda Dean Cooper
An agenda item scheduled for the March 17 Levy County Board of County Commissioners meeting proposes accepting grant funding and approving improvements to the University Oaks water system.
Levy County inherited the system when a private water utility failed. Now that grant-funded improvements are underway, a broader question emerges: would nearby municipalities like Williston or Bronson have any interest in operating the system long term?
The agenda packet for this item includes 394 pages of documentation related to the University Oaks water improvements, part of a total 1,043-page agenda package for the meeting.
Levy County operates the University Oaks water system today because that is what happens when a private water utility defaults or abandons service. The county becomes the utility of last resort to ensure residents continue receiving safe drinking water.
As the Board of County Commissioners prepares to approve improvements to the University Oaks system, another practical question comes to mind.
With the upgrades funded through a grant, is it time for the county to explore whether Williston or Bronson might be interested in taking over the system once the work is completed?
When a private utility fails, the county often has little choice but to take over the system to protect residents. But years later, especially after improvements and the growth Levy County has seen, it may be time to ask whether other options exist, such as reaching out to Williston or Bronson to see if either municipality might be interested in taking over the system.
After All, Bronson and Williston Are Already in the Water Business
Both Bronson and Williston already operate municipal water utilities with the staff, billing systems, and operational experience needed to manage water infrastructure.
With improvements being made to the University Oaks system now, this may also be the right time for the BOCC to consider whether the county should remain in the water utility business long term.
University Oaks is a small stand-alone water system and is not connected to the municipal utilities of nearby towns. The subdivision sits roughly the same distance from both Bronson and Williston — about 10 to 15 miles — and both municipalities already operate water utilities.
If the county determines it should not remain in the water utility business long term, it may be worth asking whether either community would have any interest in operating the system.
Ask and You Shall Receive — 1,043 Pages
Turns out when citizens start pushing, the paperwork suddenly shows up.
After questions were raised about agenda items lacking supporting documentation, the March 17 BOCC agenda arrived with 1,043 pages of material.
Of those 1,043 pages, 394 pages are devoted to the University Oaks water project alone.
Here’s the skinny:
Plans
Specifications
Bid instructions
Insurance requirements
Engineering certifications
Contract documents
In short — a lot of paperwork.
The agenda lists the University Oaks water project under Matt Weldon, Public Works.
At the March 17 BOCC meeting, commissioners will consider awarding ITB_2025_024 – University Oaks Water Main Improvements to T & C Underground, Inc. for $255,326.
The project involves replacing deteriorated water mains and inaccessible meters within the University Oaks Water System, which is owned by Levy County.
The agenda summary lists the funding source as grant funds from the Suwannee River Water Management District.
What the Grant-Funded Work Includes
According to the agenda packet, the project focuses on replacing aging sections of the University Oaks water system.
The work includes:
• Replacement of approximately 1,700 feet of water main
• An optional additional 1,500 feet of pipe replacement
• Installation of new service connections and fittings
• Replacement of meter pits and meters
• Reconnection of existing service lines to the upgraded water main
According to the contract documents, the work is expected to reach substantial completion within 180 days, with final completion approximately 45 days after that, once the county issues a Notice to Proceed to the contractor.
Questions Worth Asking
Even with the extensive documentation provided in the agenda packet, a few practical questions remain.
• Does the Suwannee River Water Management District grant fully fund the project, or is Levy County providing matching funds?
• If local funds are required, how much are taxpayers contributing?
• Once the improvements are completed, who will operate and maintain the system long term?
So, Who and What Is Public Works?
The county website currently provides no description of the Public Works department, just an address and phone number, with no explanation of responsibilities, staffing, or scope of work.
Yet on the March 3 BOCC agenda, Matt Weldon, Public Works, was listed and presented a request for approval of a $30,000 fire plow. The March 17 agenda now places the University Oaks water system improvements under that same department.
For a department now appearing on multiple agenda items, there is little information available to the public about what Public Works is responsible for.
So, a simple question remains:
What exactly is Public Works — and what responsibilities fall under it?
For Readers Who Want to See the Details
The full 394-page agenda packet is available through the county agenda system and is also posted with this article for readers who want to review the documentation directly.
Because informed citizens should always be able to see exactly what their government is voting on.
P.S. I do appreciate the additional documentation. Citizens shouldn’t have to ask for it.
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Posted March 15, 2026 | Spotlight on Levy County Government
