Levy County and its cities asked for a lot of storm preparations and infrastructure hardening following Hurricanes Milton and Helene.  

Of the 14 appropriation requests filed by state Sen. Stan McClain and state Rep. Chad Johnson, who represent the area, eight aim to prepare for or repair from storm damage. Combined, the appropriation requests hit $21.6 million. 

Note: Projects for Fanning Springs were included in the Gilchrist County appropriations story. 

Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative Regional Cooperative Facility Land Acquisition 

$1,500,000 

Johnson and McClain 

Requested by the Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative, the funds would buy land to eventually relocate drinking water facilities for the city of Cedar Key off the island. 

One recent hurricane knocked out drinking water for more than two weeks, and moving the facilities onto the mainland would reduce saline and other water quality issues, the appropriations document said. 

Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative Regional Cooperative Water Treatment Plant 

$1,700,000 

Johnson and McClain 

On the heels of the previous request, this appropriation would start the process to actually build the new drinking water facilities on the mainland. But $1.7 million won’t quite cover the bill.  

The project is estimated to need over $10 million in support over the next five or more years to complete. 

This appropriation would cover engineering, designing and permitting costs before construction comes in future years.  

Levy County Government Complex Permanent Generators 

$1,000,000 

McClain and Johnson 

Levy County would use the funds to buy permanent and install generators at its government complex.  

Levy County Solid Waste Landfill Cell 

$3,000,000 

McClain and Johnson 

Levy County said recent severe weather has resulted in a larger than expected amount of debris, filling up the landfill at an accelerated rate.  

The county wants funding to build a new Class III landfill cell, as the current construction and demolition cell is nearing capacity. These types of cells would also accept yard waste and non-hazardous materials. 

Levy County Replacement of University Oaks System Mains 

$850,000 

Johnson and McClain 

This funding would replace deteriorating water mains at University Oaks, the current main cause of water loss and higher operational costs.  

Cedar Key Water & Sewer District – Water System Resiliency & Hardening Improvements 

$2,900,000 

Johnson 

Hurricanes Idalia and Helene flooded Cedar Key with water rising over the tops of meters and electrical components, damaging the city’s water treatment plant.  

The funds would repair damaged assets, harden water tanks, install more resilient controls and buy a portable generator.  

Cedar Key – Protection of Dock Street 

$1,500,000 

McClain and Johnson 

The project would buy attenuation devices that are estimated to stop 90% of wave energy and protect Dock Street. The appropriation document notes that Dock Street is the economic center of Cedar Key and needs protection from structural failure due to natural disasters.  

Chiefland Sequencing Batch Reactor Controls Modernization & Process Reliability Improvements 

$300,000 

McClain and Johnson 

“The project will replace aging 25-year-old control panels and electrical components, improve treatment reliability, support compliance with nitrogen limits required under the city’s Administrative Order, and maintain operational performance while funding is pursued and secured for a 1.0 million gallons per day wastewater treatment facility expansion.” 

Yankeetown Water Line Repairs Phase 1 

$418,700 

Johnson 

Hurricane Helene caused several waterline failures in Yankeetown, and the town now wants to replace 6-inch iron pipes with PVC waterlines. 

In 2017, the town received bids to complete all three phases of the project, averaging $917,000. This appropriation would cover just the first phase.  

Bronson Septic Tank Phase Out Phase 3 

$1,300,000 

McClain and Johnson 

This project would finish design and permit work to make phase three of the town’s septic tank phase-out ready for construction.  

The project includes switching 270 properties from septic tanks to the wastewater system. 

Williston Public Safety Headquarters 

$4,000,000 

McClain and Johnson 

Williston is looking to build a public safety complex to house its fire, police, communications center and the Florida Forestry Services.  The building would also serve as its emergency operations center during storms and the backup emergency operations center for Levy County.  

Empowered of Central Florida Expansion of the Rock Program into Levy, Citrus and Sumter County 

$400,000 

McClain and Johnson 

The Rock Program will expand services to all middle and high schools in Marion, Lake and Citrus Counties and start services in Levy County with this funding.  

Services include giving out hygiene products, clothing and school supplies along with the Empowered Wrestling and Empowered Lineman Academy.  

Florida Rural Digital Literacy Program (FRDLP) 

$1,500,000 

This program provides educators in rural and low-economic regions of Florida with curriculum and professional development to prepare students for a digital world. It aims to close the “digital divide” that students in rural areas often experience. 

FRDLP provides participating districts access to a comprehensive, online, K-12 curriculum that teaches critical digital literacy skills, including information technology fundamentals, keyboarding, online safety and digital citizenship, internet usage and online communication, visual mapping, multimedia, word processing, spreadsheets, databases and presentations. 

Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs – Infrastructure and Operations Support to Expand Capacity to Serve Disabled Veterans 

$1,250,000 

Johnson 

Guardian Angels rescues, trains and donates service dogs, primarily to disabled veterans, and it has more than 70 dogs living on a 20-year-old campus that needs upgrades.  

The funding would build climate-controlled housing with outdoor runs and a standby generator.