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Port St. Joe advances plan for new wastewater plant after $25 million governor grant
Summary
City officials approved a grant agreement to use a $25 million governor's grant toward an advanced wastewater treatment facility, discussed pairing that funding with about $19 million from the state revolving fund (total ~ $44 million), and set a planning horizon aimed at completing a phased 4 million gallons/day plant by 2032.
Port St. Joe city officials voted to approve a grant agreement to apply $25 million the city received from the governor toward wastewater-plant improvements and to continue planning for a larger, phased replacement facility.
City staff told commissioners the project team has been developing a facility plan over recent years that envisions an advanced wastewater treatment plant with roughly 4 million gallons per day (MGD) capacity; current usage is reported at a little over 1.1 MGD. "We have $25,000,000 that we've received from the governor," a city staff member said when presenting the draft agreement and asked the commission to authorize the signature to move the project forward.
Why it matters: staff said the governor grant plus about $19 million the city expects to secure via the state revolving fund would bring the project funding to roughly $44 million, money officials said would support phased construction and site work. The city plans to complete the work in stages and set an internal target of finishing the project by 2032, subject to permitting, grant terms and DEP timelines.
During discussion, public commenters and at least one commissioner raised the possibility of regional consolidation or partnership with the county. "They've had a contract about this wastewater treatment plant since 2022," local resident Christy McElroy said, asking why the county had not approached the city sooner. City staff said partnering with the county would change the project scope and potentially affect how existing grant funds could be used; staff noted a grant scoped for the city's facility cannot simply be transferred without changing grant terms and approvals.
Formal action: the commission approved the draft grant agreement on a motion recorded as made by Mister Kerrigan with Mister Langston seconding. The meeting minutes show the motion passed by the commission.
What comes next: staff said they will continue facility-plan work with DEP, pursue additional grant opportunities, and report on funding and schedule updates. Commissioners asked staff to continue outreach to the county and to clarify any legal or funding constraints before altering scope or entering a formal consolidation agreement.
Source: discussion and vote recorded in the commission meeting minutes; city staff presentation and public comment provided the factual record.
