Interesting pieces of history within staff report on Casino-related expenses...

In a December 13, 2011 memo from Steven Carr and Kathleen Margoles that is part of the item related to casino expenses which will appear on the 12/20 City Commission agenda, some puzzle pieces are put in place about the progression of development on our beach property - as well as this particular section of the barrier island.  It also details the the situation regarding West Palm Beach water utilities and the previous arrangement with our former tenants.  From the memo:


Water:


While no drawings exist from the installation of the water lines at the Beach Casino, a review of
events at this site give a fairly good picture of when the lines were installed. The Lake Worth
Beach was originally developed in 1912, with no potable water facilities. When the Beach
Casino was constructed in 1922 (opened 1923) the pool was salt water (filled from Atlantic and
drained to Intracoastal). There are no records to indicate from where, or if, drinking water was
available at this time. However, since at that time the Casino was the only structure from what
is now Sloan’s curve to Manalapan, it was likely supplied by an onsite well.


In 1937 the old wooden bridge that connected the mainland to the beach was replaced by a
concrete bridge. At the same time this bridge was being constructed, Lake Worth was moving
the water facilities (one well and a tower) from the Shuffleboard Court site to the Utility
Campus off A Street. The new site had pumping facilities and an assumption can be made that
the construction of a bridge attached 6-inch cast iron water main was installed at with the bridge
construction. This also correlates to the Casino rebuild of 1938. This 6-inch main ran up the old
route of Lake Avenue into the Casino property and then down the west side along what I now
the western part of the loop road.


In 1971 The City started the replacement of the old saltwater pool with the current pool. At the
same time FDOT was replacing the old concrete bridge with the current Bastille Bridge (done in
1973). Because of the latter the water line that crossed the old bridge needed to be abandoned.
By this time there was another source of water along the barrier island that was operated by
West Palm Beach and supplied water down to South Palm Beach. With the abandonment of the
City of Lake Worth water source, a connection to the property from West Palm Beach was
made.


In 1979 the concession stand / bait shop on the pier were expanded to what now houses Benny’s
When this was done, a 2-inch line was run to the pier to supply water to the restaurant and to the
showers along the sea wall. These lines were installed by Public Services staff.


Based on these dates, the 6-inch cast iron lines on the beach property date from 1938-1940 and
the 2-inch PVC and galvanized steel are lines from 1979. West Palm Beach’s main from A1A
and the meter were installed in 1971. At around 70 years of age the cast iron lines are due for
replacement especially in the corrosive salt water ground that they sit in at the beach.
To ensure adequate service and proper fire protection, both of which are goals of long range
water supply planning, the water lines at the beach / casino are candidates for replacement. The
estimated cost of replacement, in conjunction with the ongoing project is $400,000. Since the
water is supplied by a third party (West Palm Beach), the rate structure developed for Citysupplied
service is not a viable alternative for costing water service for the beach. Previous
tenants received water and sewer service as part of the rental agreements and the West Palm
Beach water cost were paid by the General Fund. In order to adequately collect in the future, all
facilities will be individually metered and billed by the utility. Consequently, the Utility will
assume payment of the WPB water costs. The rate consultant has been asked to develop a
special overlay district for the beach / casino water. This cost will cover the cost of service
incurred by the utility for O&M and billing, the cost of the WPB water service, and the capital
improvement necessary to ensure a high standard of service. The rate development kick off
meeting is scheduled for January 2012 and the Beach overlay district will be the first task to
accomplish.