St. Pete Beach Approves $1.5 Million for Sewer Storm Upgrades

St. Pete Beach city commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to fund a $1.5 million rehabilitation project for three sewage lift stations. The work aims to prevent the kind of system-wide failures that occurred during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.

Following the 2024 storms, residents were ordered to stop flushing toilets and running showers because storm surge flooded the electrical equipment at pumping stations. The system went offline, forcing crews to use temporary generators to keep wastewater moving while residents waited more than a week for normal service to return.

Public Services Director Camden Mills presented the new plans to the board. The project will elevate electrical controls above the base flood elevation at each site. Permanent backup generators will sit on raised platforms, creating structures that stand roughly 13 to 14 feet tall. The upgrades are funded by the city’s wastewater utility and are scheduled for completion by July 2027.

The cost is split across three specific locations. Lift Station 7 at Belle Vista Triangle Park will cost approximately $514,000. Lift Station 10 near Corey Avenue at Fisherman’s Park will cost $541,000. Lift Station 4 near Pass-a-Grille Marina will cost $500,000. City staff noted that a large portion of these costs is dedicated to flood mitigation measures.

Residents in Belle Vista spent months debating the placement of the new structure near their neighborhood entrance. Greg Premer, a local resident, told the board that neighbors were unhappy with the addition. He described the structure as the size of a large garage being forced on the community. However, he acknowledged the project benefits areas further south.

City staff chose the current location to avoid $160,000 in extra costs for moving underground utilities. Residents asked for wood-look fencing and a monument sign at the neighborhood entrance. Mayor Scott Tate suggested the city could spend $30,000 on those amenities, but Commissioner Jon Maldonado argued that public money should only cover operational needs. The board approved the project but will revisit the beautification requests in June 2027.

At Fisherman’s Park, the board discussed how to make the large generator less visually intrusive. Staff suggested decorative wraps or local artwork. The city agreed to explore those ideas next year without delaying construction. The projects are part of a wider effort where the city has already cleaned 98.5% of its wastewater pipes and 85% of its manholes as of September.