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Newsletter Volume No.1, Issue No.1
Jones Edmunds Gets Start From Water/Wastewater Services
More than 30 years ago, Jones Edmunds & Associates was founded
as a consulting engineering firm specializing in industrial and municipal water and wastewater treatment, pumping stations, underground utilities and environmental sciences.
The vision of Dr. Richard H. Jones, P.E., and Robert C. Edmunds, P.E., was to establish a professional consulting firm committed to quality professional services, integrity and a high level of service while maintaining a pleasant and innovative work environment. This vision became a reality when they partnered in early 1975.
The first 15 years were marked by steady growth with a technical
focus on water and wastewater services. Major clients included many of the State’s citrus processors and other industries who recognized Dr. Jones as an industrial waste treatment expert. Other clients included Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, the City of Jacksonville, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
During this time period the firm was a leader in developing
innovative treatment processes and in steady state and dynamic transient hydraulic analyses of large water systems. The firm also performed some of the first energy-minimization modeling of large pumping systems. In the 1980s, the firm gained prominence in evaluating pre-stressed concrete pipeline deterioration as Mr. Edmunds led high-profile investigations of large transmission pipeline failures. These pipeline investigations led to comprehensive revision of the national standards for pipe design and manufacturing. During the 1990s, Jones Edmunds added significant technical capabilities and office locations to better serve clients. In the past five years, the firm experienced astounding growth as a result of its commitment to responsive service.
Today, Jones Edmunds is made up of more than 270 engineers, scientists, architects, and support staff in six Florida offices. The firm works for nearly half of Florida’s counties, dozens of cities, as well as major agencies such as NASA, water management
Spotlight On: Chris Baggett, P.E.
How long have you been with Jones Edmunds (total)?
9 years
What made you interested in engineering?
I somewhat fell into engineering. I didn’t know any engineers prior to starting college. My college differential equations teacher, who used to be an engineer, thought I possessed the necessary nerd skills to be an engineer.
What’s the most interesting and/or challenging project(s) you’ve worked on since being at Jones Edmunds?
The one that caused me to get many gray hairs was related to a pipeline in
intersection project. I was to perform an air flow hydraulic analysis to ensure that there was sufficient ventilation in a large diameter main. The main was to be internally inspected by Bob Edmunds and Mike Clark. At a project meeting, Bob Edmunds said that he expects perfection on the effort and that the ramifications of a substandard effort might mean that he and Mike don’t come out of the pipeline alive. Although the analysis was not super complex, I lost a lot of sleep on that project and would find myself double checking the calculations,
then triple checking the double checks, then quadruple checking the triple checks.
What do you like about Jones Edmunds?
The people, and the fact that the company is willing to give complex projects to those seeking challenges.
Outside of work, what are your hobbies and interests?
Annoying my wife, involuntarily being my children’s jungle gym, watching action and comedy (the dumber the better) movies, reading technical information
(unfortunately I only like reading for knowledge).
Describe a typical day for you…
Wake up, make coffee for me and my wife (as I have done for 14 years). Try to sneak out of the house without waking up the kids so that I may avoid having to make breakfast. Go to work. Come home and depending on the season, take kids to t-ball (or other) practice. Eat the incredibly good dinner that my wonderful stay-at-home home-schooling wife has made. Talk about the day with wife and kids. Play with kids. Put kids to bed. Then I try to avoid doing any honey-do work before I go the bed…most of the time I am successful.
Where are you originally from?
Windsor, North Carolina, then Virginia, then Florida, then Texas, then North Carolina, then Texas, then Virginia, and finally Florida. We would typically move several times within each state before moving to another state. My family moved more than nomads. I once went to 3 different grade schools in one year. I was 14 before I realize my legal name wasn’t “Hey New Guy”.
Where did you go to college?
University of Florida
What is something that you can tell us that not many people know about you?
I don’t know…My wife and I waited for her to turn 18 before getting married…
that was about 14 years ago.
Anything else you’d like to add?
A day without a laugh or smile is a wasted day. Quit wasting time
Florida Legislature Takes Up Water Supply Issues
The 2005 Legislative Session got underway on March 8, 2005. Over the 60-day session, Florida state representatives and senators will work through more than 3,000 bills in an effort to improve the quality of life in Florida.
One significant issue the Legislature is dealing with this year is growth management. More than 1000 people a day are entering the state and it has been 20 years since there have been any significant changes to the state’s growth management regulations. Governor Jeb Bush is focusing the changes in growth management in three major areas: schools, roads, and water supply. In the area of water supply, the Governor and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) are promoting the concept of regionalization and intergovernmental coordination. There are also indications coming from DCA that before funding will be available to local governments for water supply projects, the local government will be expected to leverage all of its own resources.
Additionally, two bills have been filed by Senator Paula Dockery (SB 440 and SB 444) amending current water supply planning and development statutes despite the fact that the 2002 Water Supply Planning Legislation requiring local governments to consider the water management districts’ water supply plans in their comprehensive planning process will not be implemented until December 2006.
In the meantime, people are still coming to Florida and putting more and more pressure on our state’s water supplies with no clear answer in sight. We will continue to track the development of these and other legislative a?ivities throughout the 2005 session. If you have any questions about water supply or other legislative activity, contact Terri Lowery at 352/377-5821 or tlowery@jea.net.
Silver Springs Reveals History, Hidden Secrets During a cool morning in February divers and scientists participated in an underwater reconnaissance of Silver Springs. Jones Edmunds hydrogeologist Allan Biddlecomb was with the team to assist with the diving exploration
of the main spring cavern. Scientists from the St. Johns River Water Management District and the firms under contract to study the flow and water quality were there to begin an overall characterization of the spring.
Silver Springs is one of the largest of Florida’s 33 first magnitude springs, as well as the state’s first tourist attraction. The spring discharges groundwater at approximately 800 cubic feet per second (equivalent to 517 million gallons per day). In spite of its high and relatively constant flow rate, Silver Springs is undergoing ecological changes. Water quality studies have documented increasing nitrogen concentrations in the springs. As a result, algae blooms are increasing and the potential for other changes remain a concern.
Jeff Davis, a hydrologist in the Groundwater Programs Division of the St. Johns River Water Management District, was leading the expedition. In addition, Doug Munch, director of Groundwater Programs, will head a separate study using
the data collected. “The high public use of Silver Springs as well as the increasing awareness of Florida’s spring ecosystems in general have created heightened awareness of these apparent changes,” says Munch.
The reconnaissance was Biddlecomb’s chance to return to the spring where he performed water quality monitoring in the cavern in 1996 and 1997. The previous hydrogeologic work by Jones Edmunds was performed as part of a project for Marion County. More recently, divers and scientists with Karst Environmental Services and Wetland Solutions, Inc. asked Biddlecomb to join them to share his observations and point out locations previously sampled.
“Conclusions from this project should help define the extent of any impairment to Silver Springs and the factors that might be altered to slow or reverse any impacts,” Munch said. The District is continuing various studies of Silver Springs and the Silver River for the Minimum Flows and Levels program, an initiative for which Jones Edmunds ecologists are working on various water bodies in other parts of the District.
A Family Affair
A father’s influence leads son to public office in a Florida community
The old adage, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” certainly rings true for Richard “Dick” Blake and son, Michael Blake. Dick is a Councilman for the City of Rockledge, and Michael is the City of Cocoa’s Mayor.
The father and son duo have served these neighboring Florida communities for a combined total of more than 30 years. The positions that these men hold influence the future of these communities,not only in the decisions they make as pu?lic officials but in the classrooms as well. Dick is a principal at Cocoa High School, and Michael is a U.S. history teacher at Clearlake Middle School. The combination of politics and education has always played a part in the Blakes’ lives.
“Politics have always been a part of my life,” said Michael. “Even my grandfather was president of Bethune-Cookman College.”
Michael, who used to play for the Miami Dolphins, is grateful to his family and friends who have always been there for him.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my father, family and God, and I’m thankful to those who have helped me all my life.”
Dick Blake’s influence on his son has been fundamental to Michael’s chosen careers. For example, at the age of 14, Michael recalls helping in his father’s
campaign when Dick ran for the mayor of Rockledge. It was then that his interest in politics was piqued as he went out on the campaign trail with his father to visit with members of the community and hand out brochures.
When asked what has kept him interested in politics for so long, Michael said, “My greatest pleasure is to assist everyone and to assure them (members of the community) that there is such a thing as good government. We serve the community with integrity and open communication between the citizens and the council.”
Integrity - Knowledge - Service
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