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Engineer updates: resurfacing, utility work, HMGP funding still unresolved
Summary
City engineer and staff reported progress on resurfacing projects and Downtown Utilities Phase 2; the city continues to seek additional Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to cover cost increases since the Hurricane Michael-era estimates.
City engineer Josh Baxter and staff briefed the Port St. Joe City Commission on construction and maintenance projects March 18, reporting progress on several resurfacing and utility projects and describing ongoing efforts to secure additional grant funding.
Baxter said crews are working on Tenth Street resurfacing and that the final paving lift was planned for Monument Avenue and Allen Memorial this week. Downtown Utilities Phase 2 is under construction with work occurring behind the Goodwill building, and the project was reported to be progressing without major issues.
On hazard-mitigation grant work (HMGP), staff said the city has been pursuing additional funding after construction costs rose substantially since the project first moved forward following Hurricane Michael. One staff member said initial estimates were in the “$500,000” range early in the process and later bids approached nearly $900,000; the most recent funding request under discussion could be in the multiple-hundred-thousand to multimillion-dollar range. Staff said they are continuing to meet with grantors to obtain final approvals and additional funding and that the process is still incomplete.
Other updates: Victoria Avenue rebid is scheduled in early April; Long Avenue paving has started and will continue; and staff are collecting prices for traffic-calming measures and other small-scale public-works items. Baxter noted that the city is retaining milled asphalt in the city yard for reuse in upcoming projects.
Why it matters: Several projects are in active construction or near-bid stages and the city’s ability to complete them depends on contractor schedules and additional grant approvals for some HMGP-funded work. The commission asked staff to continue pursuing approvals and to return with firm cost estimates and schedules.
