Public safety building update

City Manager William Long updated the Times on the status of Marianna’s Public Safety Building. Marianna City Hall moved into their new building January 16, 2023.  The next phase of the project is now ongoing.

Construction is well underway on the city’s newest investment in public safety, an $8.5 million facility that will serve as the new home for the police and fire departments, as well as provide a modernized meeting space for the city commission.

City Manager William Long announced the progress during a recent update, noting that the project officially kicked off on January 9 and is currently on schedule despite minor setbacks.

“We’ve hit a couple of small snags, we found some dirt that wasn’t ideal, but we’ve overcome those issues,” Long said. “The footers are almost completely in place, and we expect to begin pouring the cement slab in the next two to three weeks.”

The project contract allows for 400 working days, excluding weekends and accounting for weather delays, meaning the facility is expected to be completed by late winter or early spring of next year, possibly around March.

The building will bring significant upgrades to local public safety infrastructure, providing modern amenities and working spaces tailored to the demands of 24/7 operations.

“We’re not trying to make it a Taj Mahal,” Long emphasized. “But we do want it to be a comfortable and functional space for the men and women who spend day and night there.”

The fire department, in particular, will benefit from new and improved sleeping quarters, a major upgrade from the current conditions. The building will also feature a new commission meeting room, enhancing the city’s ability to conduct public business in a more professional and accessible setting.

Long praised the crews for their steady progress and acknowledged the demanding pace first responders have faced in recent weeks. “With everything going on in the county lately, they deserve a space like this,” he said. “It’s been non-stop.”