The Good Stuff in 2020
By Kari Hebrank , Executive Vice President
What a year 2020 has been , unprecedented times presenting unprecedented challenges . Your state association is no different — we also have faced extreme challenges , from ensuring our members were “ essential workers ” during the start of the pandemic , to finding ways to cut expenses to compensate for revenue shortfalls , to locating the “ mute ” button during Zoom Board meetings and finding a way to implement a socially-distanced corn hole tournament . However , as we reflect on the past year , there was plenty of “ good stuff ” that was accomplished . Below are just some of NUCA of Florida ’ s advocacy efforts , both regulatory and legislative successes , from this past year .
■ We worked with the Governor ’ s office to ensure underground utility contractors were deemed “ essential workers ” and “ Critical Infrastructure Workforce ” and that the associated work was considered “ essential services ” for public safety when the pandemic struck and a statewide “ stay-at-home ” order was in effect .
■ We intervened when some South Florida cities were not allowing construction to take place and worked to ensure our contractors were up-to-date on CDC and OSHA guidelines for workplace safety during COVID-19 pandemic , and established a COVID-19 reference section on the NUCA of Florida website .
■ We intervened when Martin County , Hallandale Beach and Lake Worth Beach revised their RFP process to require underground utility work be completed by a “ Commercial General Contractor ” even though the work described was under the scope of an underground utility contractor .
■ We passed our priority legislation ( HB 279 ) relating to the public works bidding process to mandate local governments determining whether it is in their best interest to self-perform public works projects must include the same direct and indirect costs accounted for by the private sector in their determination . HB 279 levels the playing field between local governments and the private sector .
■ We awarded $ 41,000 in college scholarships from the Bass Tournament proceeds to deserving NUCA of Florida members ’ students .
■ We helped secure $ 236.6M for water quality improvements , including $ 25M for septic- to -sewer conversion and an additional $ 10.8M for the Blue Green Algae Task Force recommendations ; $ 13M for Small County Wastewater Treatment grants ; $ 130.7M for the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Program ; $ 228.6M for the Wastewater Revolving Loan Program ; and , $ 177.8M for Hurricane
2 DITCHMEN • NOVEMBER 2020