Huntsville council approves application to seek $5 million for MB Davidson wastewater project

HUNTSVILLE — The Huntsville City Council voted to authorize the city manager to apply for and accept, if awarded, funding under the 2024 Disaster Local Communities Program (DLCP) for the MB Davidson wastewater treatment plant.

City staff told the council the MB Davidson rehabilitation and expansion was originally estimated to cost about $35 million to $37 million and that prior grant awards have covered design work but not construction. "The MB Davidson, the original cost was somewhere around 35 to $37,000,000 for the rehab and expansion," a staff member said in describing the project's history. Staff said the city has secured roughly $1.75 million so far toward design and is pursuing up to $5,000,000 in the current DLCP round to help fund construction.

Council members asked how much the city has received previously, what still needs to be financed, and whether bond proceeds would be issued for construction. Staff said the project is about 95% to 98% designed but that construction funding remains the gap; staff also described the administrative workload that follows a grant award (invoicing and reimbursement). Councilmember McKenzie moved to consider Resolution 2026-16 to submit the DLCP application for project 24D-LCP-302-1056; the motion was seconded and adopted with the mayor calling the vote.

The action authorizes the city to seek grant funds; it does not yet commit city funds to construction beyond previously budgeted design expenses. Staff repeatedly noted that even with a successful award the city may need additional financing (including bonds) to fully fund construction.

The city did not provide a final construction funding plan at the meeting; council members said they expected follow-up work on financing and project procurement if the grant is awarded.