Gadsden mayor outlines use of $24 million in ARPA funds, five drainage projects underway

Mayor Craig Ford and City Engineer Heath Williamson provided a status update on the City of Gadsden’s use of $24 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for drainage and flood-mitigation projects, saying five projects are under construction while several others remain in design or need additional funding or easements.

Ford said the $24 million in ARPA money “is prior to me getting elected,” and that the previous administration and council had already identified and designed multiple drainage projects. Ford told residents the city “had already spent approximately 6 to $8,000,000 of that $24,000,000,” and that his administration continued the previously planned projects to maximize the number of improvements completed.

City Engineer Heath Williamson gave item-by-item status updates. He said five ARPA-funded drainage projects are in construction and summarized each:

- Ninth and Lay Street (District 2): Bid at about $624,155 and roughly 90% complete, with pipes and drainage structures installed; crews were finishing asphalt patching and punch-list items, and Williamson expected completion in May, barring weather delays.

- Delhaven Place (District 4, Country Club Drive/Meadow Road area): Bid at about $434,806 and about 40%…