Marion meets ADEM deadline; Uniontown fails to respond on $8.3M infrastructure funding
The City of Marion has met a critical state deadline outlining how it plans to complete its federally funded sewer project, while the City of Uniontown has yet to respond to regulators overseeing a separate multimillion-dollar water infrastructure effort.
Marion submitted its response to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) on April 10 through its contracted engineering firm, detailing an accelerated construction schedule aimed at completing the project before the end-of-year deadline tied to federal funding.
According to the city’s engineer, approximately $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding was awarded for the sewer work, with roughly $1.79 million still unspent. The plan calls for completing major components of the project—including lift station upgrades and wastewater treatment improvements—between late August and early November.
The proposed timeline is tight, requiring the city to execute two major construction phases in roughly two months. However, the engineer stated there are no anticipated obstacles to meeting the schedule.
In contrast, Uniontown has not submitted a response to ADEM regarding its nearly $6 million ARPA-funded water system project. The lack of response comes despite a formal request issued by ADEM Director Edward Poolos, who required both municipalities to provide detailed progress reports, timelines, and potential challenges by April 10.
The warning letters, sent March 18, emphasized that any unspent federal funds must be obligated by December 31 or risk being reallocated to other communities. Together, the two projects account for more than $8.3 million in federal infrastructure investment.
Marion’s submission outlines ongoing sewer rehabilitation work and upcoming construction bids, with remaining funds allocated toward design, inspection, and contingency costs. The city must also demonstrate by June 1 that it can fully complete construction by the federal deadline.
Uniontown’s silence places its funding at greater risk, as ADEM has indicated it will redirect funds from municipalities that cannot show timely progress.
The situation unfolds amid broader scrutiny of infrastructure spending across smaller municipalities, where limited administrative capacity and financial oversight challenges have complicated large-scale project execution.