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Taylor County discusses bundled HMGP design grants and local dredging plans amid long-standing flooding concerns
Summary
Commissioners clarified that an agenda vote to extend an HMGP grant period is intended to complete necessary design work and surveys (including at Kaitton Beach and Spring Warrior) rather than delay dredging; staff said Commerce issued an intent-to-award notice covering phase one (design) and phase two (local match/construction funding) and recommended bundling procurements for efficiency.
Taylor County commissioners discussed a package of design and dredging projects tied to Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) awards and ongoing local flood concerns.
A commissioner asked whether the recommended extension of a grant would delay dredging work. County staff responded that the board was being asked to extend the grant period to allow completion of the full scope of work — including adding Spring Warrior and conducting an additional survey at Kaitton Beach — and not to postpone dredging. “No ma'am this is just to extend the grant period because of when it ends to make sure we can get the dredging done,” staff said.
Staff explained the HMGP awards are phase-one design grants and that they recently received a Commerce “notice of intent to award” that appears to cover both phase one and phase two. That, staff said, indicates construction dollars may follow once designs are shovel-ready. To move multiple projects efficiently, staff proposed bundling the design procurements, advertising for qualifications and making multiple awards so several design firms can work in parallel.
Commissioners also raised local repair priorities, including chronic flooding on Magguire Road and Turner Road. Staff noted past Army Corps studies and suggested collecting imagery and LAR data and placing a workshop on the calendar to present findings and funding options. Possible funding sources discussed included Resilient Florida and water-management-district programs; staff cautioned that some construction funding will require local matching dollars and execution of commerce agreements before spending county funds.
The board approved the consent agenda containing the grant-extension item by voice vote. Staff said they will return commerce agreements to the agenda for formal acceptance when available and pursue procurement bundling once design funds are in hand.
