Town staff and the commission debated whether to pursue a permanent, hardened emergency generator for town hall or to attempt lower-cost alternatives that would not meet the state grant's permanent-install requirement.

Staff presented a 100%-design bid-ready package for a permanent generator and supporting work to harden the building (electrical upgrades, foundation/enclosure work). Construction cost estimates ranged from about $1.3M to $1.6M depending on scope; the town holds an existing FDEM (Florida Division of Emergency Management) grant that would reimburse up to $400,000 but requires a permanent fixed generator meeting wind-resistance and code requirements and completion within the grant timeline.

Town Manager argued for keeping procurement moving so the town would remain within the grant timetable while continuing to explore lower-cost options including purchasing the existing temporary generator and building an enclosure. "I would like to have the ability to order it, save a couple of dollars, and also still be able to have the project completed in the time frame allotted," the manager said. Public Works Director and other staff cautioned that much of the project cost is not the generator unit but the building's electrical and structural work to bring the facility up to code, and that many of those upgrades would be required regardless of whether the generator itself was bought separately.

Legal and fiscal considerations: Staff warned that declining the state grant or failing to meet grant conditions could jeopardize future grant opportunities and FEMA reimbursement eligibility for disaster costs; others noted that the town is already paying for a leased temporary generator (monthly rental) and there may be six-figure savings if the unit procurement is negotiated separately. The manager proposed preparing bid specifications with a contract completion deadline that will meet grant compliance and including liquidated-damage clauses to enforce schedule.

Next steps: Commissioners directed staff to prepare bid documents and return with a refined funding plan; the commission discussed adding explicit contract deadlines and independent review of ductwork and scope for the related AC/duct replacement project before awarding large construction contracts. No construction contract or final commitment was approved at the workshop.