The Longwood City Commission voted to advance a formal citizen participation plan to public hearing, authorized acceptance of additional grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and approved repair work on aging fire apparatus.

Public Works Director Chad Smith said the citizen participation plan formalizes the city’s public-engagement procedures to meet requirements for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Smith noted two active CDBG projects: a project starting on Orange Avenue and drainage improvements at Fire Station 15. The commission approved first reading of the ordinance approving the citizen participation plan and set a public hearing for Aug. 18, 2025.

On the NRCS grant, Smith said additional funding was awarded that increased the grant to the maximum NRCS typical match of 75 percent federal (city pays 25 percent). The grant will apply to an ongoing project and the resolution authorizing the city manager to execute the grant agreement passed unanimously.

During the consent agenda the commission pulled agenda item 10c for discussion and approved approximately $20,000 in repairs to bring one of the city’s older engines back into service so it would fit and operate out of Station 17. Fire Chief Troy Feist described two E-1 engines (model years 2011 and 2012) that are aging and require significant repairs; he told the commission that frontline units are typically replaced after about 10 years, and that one of the city’s backup engines does not fit well in the Station 17 bay. Chief Feist said the department starts the year with about $110,000 in repair-related funding that supports tires and other apparatus upkeep and that prolonged vehicle build times during COVID have delayed a purchased new engine, leaving the city to make repairs in the interim.

Votes at a glance from the meeting (selected items):
• Consent agenda 10a and 10b — approved unanimously.
• Consent agenda item 10c (fire engine repairs, ~$20,000) — approved (roll call unanimous). Motion to approve was made by Mayor Sackett and seconded by Commissioner Morgan. Public Works and Fire Department staff described the repairs and station fit issue.
• First reading, ordinance approving the citizen participation plan (Ordinance 25-2270) — motion to set public hearing Aug. 18, 2025; first reading approved (motion by Commissioner Morgan, second by Commissioner McMillan; roll call unanimous).
• Resolution authorizing grant agreement with USDA NRCS (Resolution 25-1699) — approved unanimously (motion and second on the record; roll call unanimous).

Ending: Staff said the citizen participation plan and the NRCS grant documents will be reflected in upcoming hearings and contract paperwork; fire apparatus repairs will be funded from the department’s repair allocations while the city awaits delivery of a new engine in roughly a year and a half.