New information is finally coming out in the aftermath of the 2023 fire that destroyed the County's Doral Resources Recovery Facility (RRF). The 40-year-old facility did not have the proper insurance policy. Now that the County is set to build a replacement facility, the decision will cost taxpayers over a billion dollars.
As reported in Political Cortadito, Reworld Waste has sent a letter to the Mayor in November, which exposed the county's egregious breach of the insurance obligation: failing to insure the facility for the "full replacement value of the Facility." This shortsighted decision by County leaders could now saddle taxpayers with over a billion dollars in costs to build a new waste-to-energy plant — a staggering burden directly attributable to Mayor Levine Cava's oversight failures.
The County knew the facility needed significant investment and had an obligation under the operating contract with Reworld to purchase full replacement insurance coverage. In the Oct 18, 2023 memo from Mayor Cava to the County Commission urging the passage of $178 million in new investment into the facility, she wrote, "Based on a preliminary RRF assessment report by Miami-Dade DSWM consultant, HDR Engineering Inc, much of the major equipment and components have reached or are nearing the end of their expected service lifespan at the aging 40-year-old facility. To allow the RRF to continue to operate reliably, a major front-end-loaded capital refurbishment plan, as well as increased capital expenditures and major capital repairs during subsequent operating periods, will be required."
This latest disaster coming to light right as the Mayor is facing an effort to recall her has been filed.
