By AMBER PATINO
The Bonifay City Council met for regular session on Monday, November 17, and announced an upcoming ribbon cutting ceremony for the downtown stormwater pond project, as well as approved purchases for the water department.
City Executive Assistant Sierra Smith announced that the ribbon cutting for the Bonifay Downtown Resilient Stormwater Project is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, December 1, following the city council’s regular meeting. The $2.1 million project, funded through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Resilient Florida program, was designed to strengthen the city’s ability to withstand heavy rainfall and flooding events. In addition to flood prevention, the project was designed with aesthetics in mind, taking into account the surrounding residential area and adjacent Middlebrooks Park. Features will include a water element, landscaping, benches, and a walking trail. The ceremony will be open to the public and will take place at the project site near Memorial Field in downtown Bonifay.
The council also approved the purchase of a new backhoe for the water department, replacing an older piece of equipment. The new backhoe has the added benefit of a multipurpose bucket on the front, as well as a hydraulic thumb on the back. The $99,500 purchase will be made through Dobb’s Equipment, with funding secured at 0% interest over a four-year term.
“This will help out the city a lot—to help us pick up trash and debris, and to do it more efficiently and quickly,” said Public Works Director Aaron Taylor.
In other business, the council discussed plans to pave Tracy Street in Bonifay. Mayor Larry Cook noted that while the entire street is in need of paving, the bids received were unexpectedly high, prompting the city to prioritize two sections near the back end of the street. The council approved a motion to pave the specified areas at a cost of $9,900.
The next regular meeting of the Bonifay City Council is scheduled for 9 a.m. on December 1.
ANDREA WATERS 
Staff Report 