The Florala City Council on Monday passed a resolution several months in the making, and in doing so officially applied for a Community Development Block Grant in order to upgrade the city’s sewer system.

The resolution will allow them to apply for a maximum CDB grant of $350,000 to upgrade sewerage systems in the south end of the city. The council approved the resolution at the recommendation of the Florala Utilities Board, which decided last month that the sewerage project was more pressing than making upgrades to the city’s water system.

The city may only apply for one CDBG per year. In May, Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission’s Scott Farmer told utility board members the city’s application would be “strong.” He reiterated those thoughts in Monday’s meeting, telling the council the city’s project would likely receive heavier consideration, due to the fact that Florala has been turned down for the grant for three consecutive years.

The sewage upgrade project’s total cost is estimated at $385,000 and the city of Florala will match the CDBG with 10 percent, or $35,000, in funding.