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Splash Pad Water Bill Costs Century Nearly $8,000
August 30, 2017
The Town of Century has paid a water bill of just under $8,000 for their new splash pad.
Town documents show the bill was $7,871.81 for water used since the splash pad was installed late last year. It official opened in March.
The town paid the water bill to it’s own water department, but it was still an actual expense for taxpayers. That is because the water was billed at the actual cost of providing it with no profit for the water department., according to a town official.
The splash pad operates on a timer system. Children push a button to turn it on, and a short time later it turns off the water until the button is pushed again.
A $50,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant was awarded to the town in October 2015 to install the splash pad. The competitive grant program provides state funds to develop lands for public outdoor recreational use, such as building or renovating sports facilities or playgrounds. Century was the only recipient of the grant in Escambia County during 2015.
Pictured: The official opening day for the Century Splash Pad last March. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
35 Responses to “Splash Pad Water Bill Costs Century Nearly $8,000”
@ Ra’sheed, Putting in water recycling equipment at this splash pad would have been lots less expensive than dumping water from the splash pad into the sewer. In essence, recycling equipment would consist of a pump, a filter system, and a chloriinator. Anybody that has had a pool knows that this equipment requires little maintenance, and is cheap to operate, and would have cost far less than the $8000 dollar water bill century is looking at now. The other question that comes to mind is; Why didn’t these five Einsteins on the Council ask how much water this thing consumes BEFORE they built it?
I would have built this splash pad in close proximity to the river and pump the water in from there. If it is for cooling down and splashing, why does the water have to be drinking quality?.
@ Mark: it’s not 8K a year, because the official opening was in March. That’s not even 8 months. And, show me the “economic growth.”
Filtered well water, Isn’t that what city water is? Recycled water would be just as expensive if not more than using the already filtered, and treated water that is coming from the city. When you pay for water from a utilities most of the cost is for pulling the water out of the ground, treatment, and the infrastructure, pipe, meters, and pumps, needed to get the water to the customer. There are very few things in this world that are free. Most things and services come with a price tag so if you want a splash pad you are going to have to pay the Pumper. The fair thing to do would be to fence it off and have a pay to play policy. I know a lot of people in Century that will never use the pad and didn’t want it to be built, so let the users pay.
The north side of the county is paying the bill for ECAT. Literally. The least they could do is fund our splash pad.
$8,000. for 1 year of enjoyment for a whole town is worth it. The water company should give Century a discount. Let’s not forget that the government has an obligation to promote the general welfare. Anything that stimulates community is good: good for economic growth and good for an overall sense of well being.
We finally found a subject you cannot blame Mayor Hawkins on!! I am sure Council President Brooks an McCall’s cronies are rethinking the water pad now. Let us remember former Mayor had grand opening write before elections..
We finally found something to argue and discuss that you can’t put on Mayor Hawkins!! WOW!! I am sure Councilwoman Brooks and McCall’s cronies are hating this!! Let’s remember McCall went forward with Splash Pad to get votes and it didn’t work.
“A small town can’t make business come here.” So are all the jobs created in Atmore fake?
For all the people who think it is a good idea, thank you and the kids thank you.
You can even do it anonymously. or sound a trumpet– You can pay it for years in advance.
They will probably take cash or a check
Splash Pad Fund
c/o The Town of Century
7995 N Century Blvd.
Century, FL 32535
Isn’t this the same city council that said “a water recycling system would be too expensive” when this splash park was put out to bid?
For those saying they should charge admission,
It would cost more than $8K to pay someone to collect user fees. Even if you do an “honor drop box type payment system”, someone would have to collect the money and monitor to ensure people were paying. Re-circulation systems are expensive and again need to be maintained and tested on a regular basis.
I’ll be wiling to pay a little extra on my water bill to let the kids enjoy themselves during the hot summer months. These kids don’t have anywhere to go or to do during the summer.
Is any of this water recycled ? Is there a way to recycle the water ? Looks like the city needs to study ways of reducing waste without taking away this benefit for our kids and community.
How about a pump like a pool and recycle the water. Would that be a lot cheaper
The kids need encouragment. They have so little to do. This why the town has no growth. You must provide and invest in your younger generation or you will have a dying town. No one will return.
The town fights the drug problem? Isn’t that the sherriff’s problem or how about this one –personal responsibility.
some people here do not seem to understand the basic function of small town government. It is not economic development, they can’t make a business come here, not education, nor building houses nor baby sitting.
They run the utility, water in, poop out, garbage pick up, parks and rec and roads mostly via revenues (taxes and fees)
do the math.
These complaints! WOW! Is it possible for people to donate money to lower the water bill? I do understand the plight of the elderly. Every dime has to be carefully managed. If people could donate then the costs should go down. Don’t take it away from the kids. There isn’t much to do there.
I think the splash pad is money well spent, in comparison to the over 30k the town spent on the ugliest Christmas decorations in history, maybe they can get a refund on those ugly pole wreaths and put that money towards the splash pad water bill. At least with the splash pad the kids have a place to go and enjoy summer, those hideous decorations are just an eyesore during the holidays.
Hold on a moment. 8K isn’t anything for a water bill when the town spent 30k on a shed to house a new truck. I think it would be smarter all the way around for the town to invest in businesses first, make it easier for a business to start up here. While they are at that, how about trying to get a handle on the town’s drug problems? Much more things to be concerned about here my Darlings.
It’s kinda funny the same time this story comes out Atmore announces its about to build one at Heritage Park.
@ Resident. Ref. “probably people coming from outlying areas”. With this type of thinking you should just get even with them by drive down their street and wear it out. The pad is good for the young and not so young people in the area. Look at the happy faces and reflect on what little the area has to offer the young people in this area.
This is not fair to the residents that doesn’t have kids nor grandkids . Let the ones using it pay for it. We are mostly a town of old retired people that have a hard time just making ends meet. We don’t need any extra added to our bills just to please these parents who need a place to dump the kids so they can have free time.
Well said, Fred!
These kids aren’t causing trouble. There is so little to do in this town. Stop complainingQ
One problem with this and other socialistic projects is that even if the money is there to build it, it can be a drain to maintain it.
Can’t provide viable means to attract employers, but yet can spend 8K in six months for a splash pad. Makes perfect sense.
There are so many unhappy /uncharitable people in our small community..
All you hear is how we need progress, but as soon as there is, the complaints begin..
Of course there will naturally be a water bill, surely no-one expected this to be FREE…
But, if you have children / grandchildren this Splash Pad was a God Send this past summer… Just once I would love to see some Encouragement,Support and Gratitude for the things we are Blessed with Rather than people always looking for something to complain about..
But as the saying goes..
Can’t please everyone..
2$ seems a small price for the kids having a place to play and cool down during summer that is safe and maintained..But I would gladly pay 1$ per car entrance fee if I had kids that would enjoy this…
A water well would be the best bet for saving money in the long run
If Century can’t afford that little bity pad then I would suggest you move because that town will be gone next week. If $2 a month is going to break you, you’re in sad shape. I’m betting most people spend at least that much twice a week to play the lotto.
Money well spent.
Why isn’t the water recycled?
Put that thing on filtered well water….
I was never a fan. McCall had it right on this one. Charge admission. It is probably people coming in from outlying areas anyway. Century can not afford that.
So every Century water customer is paying $24 a year for this splash pad?
I said this before the splash pad opened…it’s cool, great for the kids. But Century is raising garbage bills, raising water bills, raising sewer bills and raising natural gas bills. The citizens can’t afford to keep paying for $1,000 a month or more for water. That’s like $2 or more per water customer per month, or $24 per year. (500 customers, I think I read somewhere. 1000/500=$2/mo x 12 = 24)
Plus the there was a list of hundreds of thousands needed to bring the water and sewer systems up to standards. Priorities of the current administration are wrong.
There will be operating costs with any municipal facility. Surely everyone knew there would be a water bill associated with it. This splash pad is fun for the children, let’s not spoil the fun griping about the cost. Feeling hot about the cost? Go over and push the button!