Marianna City Commission Approves Grant Amendments and Funding Requests
By Shelia Mader
The Marianna City Commission approved a full slate of grant-related requests during their recent meeting, unanimously passing each item aimed at supporting vital infrastructure and community projects throughout the city.
City Manager William Long led the presentation of multiple items, each designed to enhance city services, improve cash flow, or extend timelines on ongoing projects affected by supply chain delays and construction coordination.
Among the approvals was Amendment 1 to Grant Agreement MT143, tied to the city’s upcoming Resiliency Hub Project. The amendment lowers the reimbursement increment threshold from 10% to 5%, allowing the city to request reimbursement sooner and ease cash flow concerns. “This helps improve our cash flow. It’s actually to our benefit,” said Long. The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Alan Ward and seconded by Commissioner Rico Williams, passing unanimously.
The Commission also approved a grant extension for the Public Safety Building project, funded through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The revised deadline now extends to September 30, 2026, allowing the city to complete the generator and code compliance components of the facility. This motion was also made by Ward and seconded by Commissioner Rick Pettis, passing 5-0.
Amendments to two major infrastructure grants, the Citywide Water Project (M0101) and the Wastewater Resiliency Project (N0011), were also approved. Both changes reduce the reimbursement threshold to 5%, and the wastewater grant’s period was extended to September 30, 2026. Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of each amendment.
Another key approval was Amendment 4 to Grant Agreement HL138, a legislative appropriation supporting the ongoing Public Safety building project. The extension now runs through June 30, 2026.
In a significant win for energy conservation, the Commission approved a $721,500 grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture to support energy efficiency upgrades at Marianna’s wastewater and water treatment facilities. Of the total, $671,500 is allocated for construction, with the remainder set aside for planning and design.
A request to extend the Market Street Water and Sewer improvement grant (LPA0324) to December 31, 2027, was also approved. Long explained that ongoing construction of the new fire and police stations had limited access to Market Street, prompting the need for more time.
The Tara Estates Sewer Project also received a timeline extension through December 31, 2026, via Amendment 3 to Grant Agreement 22009. City Manager William Long noted delays were due to equipment issues rather than contractor-related problems. Public Works Director Clay Wells added, “We’re down to the final nitty-gritty,” assuring commissioners that pressure was being applied to meet the new deadline.
Additionally, the city moved forward with a $930,131 engineering task order with Ardura, tied to previously approved wastewater treatment improvements funded by a DEP loan. This step was necessary for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to fully execute the agreement.
The Marianna Police Department was awarded a $2,241 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), which will be used to purchase LED road flares, traffic cones, and other safety supplies. The final approved amount, including a slight overage, was $2,377.62.
Wrapping up the approvals, the Commission accepted a bid for an 8-inch bypass pump at a cost of $71,900, well within the $100,000 budgeted. Commissioner Rick Pettis questioned the manufacturer, Global, and received assurances from Wells that the equipment met city standards.
With each motion passing by unanimous 5-0 votes, the Commission’s support signaled a unified focus on resilience, public safety, and long-term infrastructure investments.