SR 20 Chipola River Bridge Project

The link below you will find the State Road 20 Chipola River Bridge replacement informational brochure. Construction begins the week of June 10, 2013 and is scheduled to be completed in 15 months or Fall of 2014.

SR 20 Chipola River Bridge.pdf

May 2013 Agenda

Please click link below for the regular May City Commission meeting agenda.

May 2013.pdf

2012 Annual Water Report

City of Marianna

2012 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

We're pleased to present to you this year's Annual Water Quality Report.  This report is designed to inform you about the quality water and services we deliver to you every day.  Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water.  We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources.  We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water.  Our water source isground water from four wells.  The wells draw from the Floridan Aquifer.  Because of the excellent quality of our water, the only treatment required is chlorine for disinfection purposes.

In 2011the Department of Environmental Protection performed a Source Water Assessment on our system.  The assessment was conducted to provide information about any potential sources of contamination in the vicinity of our wells.  There are seven potential sources of contamination identified for this system both with moderate susceptibility levels.  The assessment results are available on the FDEP Source Water Assessment and Protection Program website at www.dep.state.fl.us/swappor they can be obtained from the City of Marianna Public Works Department at 850-526-5428.

If you have any questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contactRobin O’Bryan at (850)526-5428.We encourage our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled meetings. They are held onthe first Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm at City Hall in the Commission Room.

The City of Mariannaroutinely monitors for contaminants in your drinking water according to Federal and State laws, rules, and regulations.  Except where indicated otherwise, this report is based on the results of our monitoring for the periodof January 1 to December 31, 2012.  Data obtained before January 1, 2012, and presented in this report are from the most recent testing done in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations.

In the table below, you may find unfamiliar terms and abbreviations.  To help you better understand these terms we've provided the following definitions:

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL:The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.  MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG:The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.  MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Action Level (AL):  The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

Initial Distribution System Evaluation (IDSE):  An important part of the Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts Rule (DBPR).  The IDSE is a one-time study conducted by water systems to identify distribution system locations with high concentrations of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs). Water systems will use results from the IDSE, in conjunction with their Stage 1 DBPR compliance monitoring data, to select compliance monitoring locations for the Stage 2 DBPR.

Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL:  The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water.  There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

Maximum residual disinfectant level goal or MRDLG:  The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health.  MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

“ND” means not detected and indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis.

Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (µg/l)– one part by weight of analyte to 1 billion parts by weight of the water sample.

Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l)– one part by weight of analyte to 1 million parts by weight of the water sample.

Picocurie per liter (pCi/L)- measure of the radioactivity in water.

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children.  Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. City of Marianna is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components.  When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking.  If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested.  Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells.  As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations, which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health. 

2012 CONTAMINANTS TABLE

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

(A)           Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.

(B)           Inorganic contaminants,such as salts and metals, which can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

(C)           Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

(D)          Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

(E)           Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.  The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.  More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

In our continuing efforts to maintain a safe and dependable water supply, it may be necessary to make improvements in your water system. The costs of these improvements may be reflected in the rate structure. Rate adjustments may be necessary in order to address these improvements.

 Thank you for allowing us to continue providing your family with clean, quality water this year. In order to maintain a safe and dependable water supply, we sometimes need to make improvements that will benefit all of our customers. These improvements are sometimes reflected as rate structure adjustments. Thank you for understanding.

 Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

 We at the City of Marianna would like you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resources.  We are committed to insuring the quality of your water.  If you have any questions or concerns about the information provided, please feel free to call.(850)526-5428 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  You may also go to our website: www.cityofmarianna.com.

Notice of Audit

NOTICE

FROM:               Kimberly J. Applewhite

                             City Clerk

                             (850) 482-4353

DATE:                April 10, 2013

AUDIT OF VOTING SYSTEM

Pursuant to F.S.101.591 and Rule 1S-ER08-04, F.A.C., a public manual audit of the voting system shall be conducted after an election.   The audit shall include a tally of election day, absentee, and provisional ballots. 

The City Canvassing Board for the Group 3 and Florida Public Utility Referendum (FPU) Election will meet Friday, April 12, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. (CST) at the City Hall Commission Room, 2898 Green Street, to audit the results of the Tuesday, April 9^th, 2013 Group 3 and FPU Utility Referendum electionvi.

All City Canvassing Board meetings are open to the public.  When the audit is completed, the results will be made public.

April 2013 Commission Meeting

Please click on link below to view the April 2, 2013 regular Commission Meeting agenda.

April 2013.pdf

Also, remember to attend the public forums to ask questions about the referendum that will be voted on April 9, 2013 on whether or not the City should purchase the rights to the electric rates from FPU in order to establish electric rates within the City limits of Marianna.

City Public Information Forums

Dear City of Marianna Resident,

On Tuesday, April 9, 2013, all City of Marianna residents will be called upon to vote on a referendum to make a very important decision as to whether the City should establish its own electric utility service by purchasing the electric facilities presently owned by Florida Public Utilities Company (“FPU”) located within the City limits of the City of Marianna.  This referendum is the result of years of hard work and the decision to pursue this path has been carefully considered with the primary goal being to protect the residents of Marianna from having to pay too much for electrical service.

 If a majority of the Citizens adopt the change, the City will be able to take ownership of your electric system resulting in all City residents having input on electric rates and service for our community.  FPU and the Public Service Commission in Tallahassee will no longer set the electric rates for the City.  Revenues generated from the City owning and operating the electric service could be used to enhance our quality of life by improving the City’s infrastructure such as roads, recreation facilities and other City property.  Remember your vote on April 9^th is very important for the future of our City.

We encourage you to contact your Commissioner or the City Manager, Jim Dean, to discuss this very important decision at 850-482-4353.  In addition, to find out more information the City will be holding public forums for residents/voters to attend.  The dates, time & locations are as follows:

March 19^th, 25^th, 26^th, & 28^th – City Hall Commission Room, 4 pm – 6:30 pm.

April 1^st, 2^nd, & 8^th – City Hall Commission Room, 4 pm – 6:30 pm.

March 21^st & April 4^th – McLane Center, 4291 Clay Street, 4 pm – 6:30 pm.

It’s all about your money Marianna, so practice your right to vote by showing up at the polls on April 9^th to let your voice be heard.

Practice your right to vote.

Sincerely,

James B. Wise, Mayor -   Paul A. Donofro, Jr., Commissioner

John E. Roberts, Commissioner - Rico Williams, Commissioner 

Travis Ephriam, Commissioner

Referendum on Florida Public Utility (FPU) Purchase

CITY OF MARIANNA

City's Purchase of Electric Utility Inside the City of Marianna
"It's All About Your Money, Marianna'"

In April, you, the citizens of Marianna will vote on whether the City should set up its own electric utility system by purchasing the electric facilities and equipment of Florida Public Utilities Company ("FPU") located in the City.

This referendum is the result of years of hard work by the City Commission, the City Manager, and the City Attorney. The decision to pursue this path has been carefully thought out with only one purpose and one goal in mind: to protect you, the citizens of Marianna, who are all electric customers of FPU, from paying too much for your power. When the City started down this road in 20 I 0, FPU's rates for residential customers were the highest in Florida - charging more than $155 a month for 1,000 kWh of residential service, as compared to average rates for Florida municipal utilities of less than $128 for the same service. While FPU's rates have come down, so have those of all other Florida utilities, FPU still has the highest rates of any Florida investor-owned utility, and rates that are higher than 30 out of 33 municipal utilities in Florida.

Your Mayor and City Commissioners heard your complaints about your outrageously high electric bills, and we took action. To protect the citizens of Marianna, your City Commission authorized the City Attorney to sue FPU for the right to buy FPU's property, which the City negotiated for in our franchise agreement with FPU. After lengthy legal proceedings, FPU settled the case by agreeing that the City can hold the referendum in accordance with the franchise. If Marianna's citizens vote in favor, the City will purchase FPU's system within the City limits.

Throughout this process, the City's Number 1 goal has been to get you, our citizens, relief from FPU's high rates. Your vote in the referendum will have long-lasting and far-reaching consequences for you, your children, and your grandchildren. Voting "Yes" on the referendum will enable your City government, and you, our bosses, do the following.

Keep Your Money At Home, Working for You and Your Fellow Citizens. FPUC is a private utility, headquartered in Delaware and owned by shareholders across the country. A significant chunk of your electric bill is profits for FPU's shareholders and management, and it leaves Marimma to be spent elsewhere. Additionally, when FPU makes bad financial decisions, and they have made some extraordinarily bad ones, those additional costs further drain our economy, with nothing to show for it. Any surplus revenues generated by a City-owned electric utility will stay here in Marianna to finance needed local services and improvements.

Spend Less On Electricity. A City-owned electric system can and will provide you with electric service at lower rates. There is no good reason for FPU's rates to be as high as they are, and city-owned systems in Florida are successful at rmming their systems reliably at rates significantly less than FPU's: in January 2013, FPU was still charging about $135 for 1,000 kWh of residential service ($143 if you include a typical 6% franchise fee), while the average for Florida municipal utilities is now down to $127.72. There is every reason to believe that your City Commission will get your rates down to the Florida city average, if not below it. This will mean more money in your pockets evety month, money that you can spend in Marianna, on your families, and more money spent locally that will keep Marianna's economy going and growing. And, lower rates can only help the City attract new businesses to help our economy grow.

Keep Your Taxes Low. Instead of profits being raked off and sent to out-of-state shareholders and management, the City would probably operate the system with a modest revenue surplus, which the City would spend in Marianna on needed local services and capital projects, such as public safety, roads, and parks. Any revenue surplus will enable the City to provide needed services with less tax revenues.

Take Control of Your Electric System and Your Future. You don't have a say in how FPU spends their profits and pays their excessive costs. Through your Mayor and City Commission, however, you have a direct say in how your electric and other utilities are run and on how your money is spent, rather than being on the receiving end of whatever FPUC decides to do.

Marianna Will Do a Great Job Providing Ouality Electric Service, Just Like We Do With Our Other Utilities and Services. Marianna already operates successful water, wastewater, and natural gas utilities that provide reliable service, and we'll do the same with electric.

The City Can and Will Provide You With Better Service. While FPU has closed all of its customerservice locations in Mariatma that used to provide in-person service, the City has real people that you can talk to about any utility or other problems you have, right at City Hall. And FPU's service reliability
doesn't stack up very well when compared to other Florida utilities. We can do better, just like other Florida municipal utilities do.

Many Florida Cities Operate Successful Electric Utilities. There are 33 other municipal utilities in Florida, including neighboring Northwest Florida cities including Blountstown, Chattahoochee, Quincy, Havana, and Tallahassee. Thirty of these have rates lower than FPU's. We can do the same here in Marianna.
 

Special Meeting 3/13/2013

Please click on below link to view agenda for March 13, 2013 special meeting set for 6 pm.

March 13 special meeting.pdf

City of Marianna Election Information

The City of Marianna will be holding an election for City Commission Group 3 and the Florida Public Utility (FPU) Purchase referendum on April 9, 2013.  Allen E. Ward II and James B. Wise qualified for City Commission Group 3 and any residents in Group 3 can vote on the City Commissioner race and the FPU referendum issue.  Any other residents in the City (Group 1, 2, 4 & 5) can vote on the FPU referendum issue. Absentee voting is now available and any questions should be directed to Kimberly Applewhite, City Clerk or Carolyn Spears, Deputy Clerk, at (850) 482-4353.

To view a sample ballot please click on your ward:

Wards 1, 2, 4, & 5

Ward 3

March 2013 Agenda Packet

Please click the below link to view the March 2013 Regular Commission Meeting agenda packet.

March2.pdf