Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Milton staff says $10 million federal gas-line grant can cover wider replacements; council urged to move item to consent
Summary
Assistant city manager told the council a $10 million PHMSA grant awarded in 2024 will cover both phase 1 (about $3.1M) and a proposed phase 2 expansion to replace aging cast-iron and steel lines and move pipe out of Highway 90 median; staff asked the council to approve a contractor change order, an engineering task order and a materials-supply agreement.
City staff told the Milton council that a $10 million federal grant awarded in 2024 to replace vulnerable natural gas lines can be used to expand the project and replace additional aging pipe without seeking more money.
Sandy Woodbury, assistant city manager, said the initial grant award can cover phase 1 and a recommended phase 2 expansion after coordination between the city's contractor EquiX Energy Services and project manager Florida Gas Utilities. "As you know, back in 2024, we were awarded $10,000,000 to replace some vulnerable natural gas lines," Woodbury said. She told the council phase 1 is estimated to cost about $3.1 million and staff's engineer recommended adding more than 100,000 linear feet of replacement pipe and moving lines out of the Highway 90 median.
Katie Hall, speaking for Florida Gas Utilities, told the council the work would replace "all the cast iron and bare steel" and other aging leak-prone pipe in the city limits, and that relocating lines off the Highway 90 median would improve safety and maintenance. Woodbury requested three approvals: a contractor change order to lock unit prices for phase 2, a task order for the engineer to perform additional design/engineering work around Highway 90, and execution of a materials-supply agreement with the city's sole-source provider.
Staff recommended the item be moved to the consent agenda so Hall and the contractor representatives could leave after the briefing. Council members asked logistical questions about next steps; no formal vote was recorded at the work session. Staff said further documentation and contract changes would be brought forward as consent items or formal agenda items in the regular meeting.
If the council places the change order and related documents on consent and later approves them, the city expects to proceed with expanded replacement and median relocation within the grant timeline.
