Manatee County commissioners voted 5-1 on Sept. 1 to shelve Project Wolf, a proposed deal with CIP Solutions for a PFAS treatment plant at the Lena Road Landfill.

The delay came after County Attorney Pamela D'Agostino told the board her office had not reviewed the contract. "We performed no legal review of the documents before the board today," D'Agostino said at the meeting, the Bradenton Times reported.

Commissioner Mike Rahn cast the lone vote against the delay.

The county attorney's office now has until Dec. 1 to complete its legal review before the deal returns to the board, according to the East County Observer.

Under the proposed contract, CIP Solutions would finance, build and operate the plant. The county would pay up to $4.5 million a year for treatment of leachate and biosolids and lease a quarter-acre landfill site to CIP for $1 a year. Staff recommended a $2.75-per-month utility rate increase for customers if the contract is approved. Commissioners would have to vote separately on that hike.

Lakewood Ranch residents are served by Manatee County utilities and would see the increase on their bills.

Contract Never Got a Legal Sign-Off

When the county attorney's office first reviewed the contract in July, under the earlier name Project Viking, it found the document "legally insufficient," the Observer reported. Deputy County Administrator Stephanie Garrison said staff addressed those concerns line by line but chose not to resubmit the revised contract, calling the changes "business decisions."

A clean version reached the county attorney's office just eight days before the Sept. 1 meeting. County Administrator Charlie Bishop called D'Agostino to let her know the item would be on the agenda.

Commissioner George Kruse moved to delay the vote. He and Commissioner Bob McCann both supported the project in concept but said there was no reason to rush.

"We're looking at scare tactics. No. 1, this is reclaimed water. This is not drinking water," McCann said. "The other thing is that there is no rush on this right now."

Experts Question CIP's 90% PFAS Claim

CIP's presentation told commissioners its pilot "demonstrated PFAS/PFOA reductions greater than 90% on Manatee County's own water streams." Three independent experts pushed back.

Graham Peaslee, a PFAS researcher and professor emeritus at the University of Notre Dame, said achieving 90% reduction is easier in a controlled pilot than in real-world operations where temperature and pH constantly change.

Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper, questioned whether the technology had been properly scrutinized by engineers and scientists. State Rep. Bill Conerly, a Lakewood Ranch legislator and engineer who sponsored the state's new PFAS-related law, House Bill 1019, also raised doubts.

The Observer reported requesting before-and-after sample results on the leachate. County Communications Manager Casey Zempel said the county lacks sufficient testing data. CIP declined to produce its results, citing confidentiality.

Commissioner Raises Procurement and Conflict Concerns

Commissioner Jason Bearden questioned CIP's procurement history. He raised CIP president Mark Stout's connection to Fortress 2020 LLC, the entity in a proposed $21 million land purchase at SeaPort Manatee in February 2025. County records show Stout signed as the taxpayer for Fortress on that same parcel.

CIP already operates the county's Buckeye Road facility at Piney Point. The Bradenton Journal reported the county spent about $43 million on Piney Point operations while recovering roughly $19.5 million from the state.

CIP's chief revenue officer, Courtney De Pol, served as a Manatee County deputy county administrator from June 2022 through April 2026.

Residents can follow the board agenda at mymanatee.org for the next scheduled meeting on the item.