Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore.
By Apopka Mayoral Candidate Christine Moore
In Summary:
Christine Moore details her role in securing $125 million in state funding to reduce costs for homeowners converting from septic to sewer systems in the Wekiwa Springs Basin. She also highlights road resurfacing, streetlight installation, and sidewalk projects completed during her tenure as county commissioner. Looking ahead, Moore emphasizes continued infrastructure investment and the economic potential of expanding Apopka’s trail network.
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As a county commissioner, I quickly learned the cost of building and operating utilities we use every day – water, electricity, gas, and sewers. When we embarked in 2019 on connecting 2,000 homes in the Wekiwa Spring Basin to sewer and taking property owners off septic systems, the only way to reduce the cost for each homeowner was through state grants.
Related: Can you visualize your new Downtown Apopka?
The State Department of Health mandated, through the Springs Protection Act of 2010, that the conversion process begin. Nitrogen produced by septic systems was polluting Wekiwa Spring, as it was other springs throughout the state. But conversions were slow, if happening at all. Homeowners balked at the expense, and no leaders had started a true process to build sewers. In the meantime, nitrogen from septic systems across the state was polluting our waterways.
I first held meetings in 2019 to explain to residents of 19 subdivisions throughout Apopka why we needed to convert and what I planned to do. And those meetings at Apopka schools were packed.
I traveled to Tallahassee, met with state lawmakers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and ultimately with the St. Johns River Water Management District to request grant dollars to supplement Apopka homeowners’ costs. Ultimately, we received $125 million from state entities in the county. Conversion costs started at $45,000 per lot, and with the grant money I fought for, each property owner ended up being responsible for only $10,000, which could be put on a 10-year payment plan if need be. In the summer of 2021, the Wekiwa Springs Septic-to-Sewer project began at Sweetwater West. The first of 2,000 Apopka-area homes was converted to sewer service. As conversions continue, now in the Rolling Oaks neighborhood, I can say with full confidence that utilities are not inexpensive, but I know how to get started fixing them and how to get funding.
Understanding and planning for the cost and process of road resurfacing, installing streetlights and sidewalks, and maintenance of stormwater retention ponds, for example, go together.
Here’s a short list of projects I spearheaded in Apopka while commissioner:
Streetlight Installation
- Binion Rd.
- Welch Rd.
- Votaw Rd.
- Hiawassee Rd. and Piedmont Wekiva Rd.
Road Resurfacing
- Piedmont Wekiwa Rd.
- Ocoee Apopka Rd.
- Keene Rd.
- Round Lake Rd.
Coming up this year:
- S. Park Ave.
- N. Rock Springs Rd.
Sidewalk Projects
Just last month, I opened the Lake Apopka Connector Trail, which connects the West Orange Trail to the Apopka Loop Trail, making one 49-mile pathway around Lake Apopka finally possible. We’ve waited a long time for the completion of this project, which will capitalize on Apopka’s potential to be recognized as “Trail City.”
Proposed connections between Kelly Park Rd. and Ponkan Rd., Kelly Park Rd. and Rock Springs, Rock Springs and Wekiva Springs, and SR 429 and Rock Springs will only build on what we’ve started. With a “Trail City” designation, Apopka will hold an economic driver unlike any other city in our county. I hope to continue the progress I’ve made for our town…Apopka.
Key Points:
- Moore cites $125 million in state funding for septic-to-sewer conversions
- Project reduced homeowner costs from $45,000 to about $10,000
- Lists road resurfacing, streetlights, and sidewalk projects completed in Apopka
- Highlights the opening of the Lake Apopka Connector Trail and the “Trail City” vision
- Emphasizes experience in securing funding and managing infrastructure projects
Political ad paid for and approved by Christine Moore for Apopka Mayor, non-partisan
