To assist the Alligator Point Water Resources District (APWRD) Board with long-range planning and other projects.

The Water Resources Committee strives to inform Alligator Point's residents about:

1. importance of water conservation
2. how regulations improve water quality
3. what infrastructure is needed to meet those regulations and provide an adequate water supply
4. costs associated with ample, safe water.

1. Analysis of Water Consumption
2. Survey of Customers

At its July 13, 2002 meeting, the Alligator Point Taxpayers Association (APTA) the Board approved a motion to assist the Alligator Point Water Resources District (APWRD) Board with long-range planning and other projects. After that meeting, Rand Edelstein and Westi Jo DeHaven met to discuss Alligator Point’s current water supply and customers’ future needs in our growing coastal community. Ken Osborne and Ruth Hambrose joined the team at the next APWRD Board meeting. Formalizing the committee, the APTA Board created the Water Resources Committee during its August 31, 2002 meeting.

This was timely action as the APWRD Board was in the process of selecting an engineering firm to prepare a Water Resource Master Plan for meeting Alligator Point’s water needs through the year 2023. (The Northwest Florida Water Management District requires a master plan pursuant to APWRD’s 2000 water consumption permit.)

On Saturday, August 31, 2002, the Water Resources Committee met with a representative of the APWRD Board to discuss how APTA can contribute to the Master Plan. Three specific areas were identified:

1. Analysis of Water Consumption
2. Fire Hydrant Study
3. Survey of Customers

The Public Safety Committee had been working Fire Chief Steve Fling on a "Hydrant Placement Study of Alligator Point and Bald Point." And Ken Osborne began collecting data for a water consumption analysis. Rand Edelstein carried out yeoman’s work—performing great and loyal service—in analyzing the level of water consumption over the past eight years.

On November 9, 2002, the Committees, along with APTA President Linc Barnett, Alligator Point-St. Teresa Volunteer Fire Department’s Board President Kevin Griffin, Fire Chief Fling, and APWRD Board Chair Tom VanderPlaats, met with Skip Cook and Bill Leseman (Camp, Dresser & McKee (CDM) project team hired to prepare Alligator Point Water Resources Master Plan 2023). Rand Edelstein gave an overview of water consumption trends over the past eight years. Fire Chief Steve Fling and ATPA Public Safety Chair John Murphy presented the Fire Hydrant Study identifying fire hydrant repairs and replacements needed and new hydrant installation costs.

Westi Jo DeHaven, Chair of APTA Water Resources Committee, presented a ‘draft’ customer survey instrument and collaborated with Skip Cook and Bill Leseman to integrate their topics of concern into the draft survey. A survey work plan/timeline was created.

On November 18, 2002, surveys were mailed to all Alligator Point Water Resources District’s 584 customers. By December 20, 2002, two hundred seventy-five surveys were returned. This is an excellent response rate of 47 percent. (Typically, mailed surveys receive a 25-30 percent return rate.)

The findings were analyzed and a draft report presented to members of the Water Resources Committee, APWRD Board, Camp, Dresser & McKee project team, and APTA president Linc Barnett for review and comment. A meeting was held on January 11, 2003 (following the APTA meeting) to make changes for the final report. In early February, the final report was given the APTA Board, the APWRD Board and staff and Camp, Dresser & McKee for inclusion in their report.

Many contributed to this effort. Thanks to those on Alligator Point’s "Ace-Envelope Stuffing/Mass Mailing" team—Ruth and Joe Hambrose, Juanita and Frank Gibson, and Linc Barnett. And last, but far from least, thanks to APWRD Board members (Tom VanderPlaats, Randy Miller, and Bunky Atkinson), APTA Water Resources Committee members (Rand Edelstein, Ken Osborne, and Ruth Hambrose), John Murphy, Fire Chief Fling, APTA President Linc Barnett, and Skip Cook and Bill Leseman from CDM for giving helpful feedback as the survey and report underwent numerous drafts.