Temple Terrace officials cut the ribbon Aug. 14 on the city’s new Utility Service Center, a project Mayor Andy Ross said turned out to be more valuable than city leaders envisioned when it was planned several years ago.
The building replaces an aging utility building at the Whiteway Treatment Plant that dates to the 1960s and will provide additional space for utilities employees, some Public Works staff and the city’s IT department, since the building is a hardened facility.
The project was paid for with $7 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money, along with what Ross estimated was another $1.5 million in city contributions for improvements like upgrades to the backup generator system.
The new building will also free up room on the property when the old building is demolished for the improvements needed to address the city’s PFAS contamination and water treatment system.
“This turned out to be an even bigger benefit than we originally thought,” Ross said. “I wish I could take credit for planning that, but it just happened.”