Marathon Council Approves $2.45 Million Wastewater Contract, Sets 2026 Priorities

Marathon leaders moved quickly at their first post election meeting on November 18, 2025, addressing governance, infrastructure and state level advocacy in a session aimed at setting direction for the coming year. New council member Debbie Struyf was sworn in after finishing as the top vote getter in the November 4 election, and the council selected Lynny Del Gaizo to serve as mayor while naming Struyf vice mayor.

The meeting centered on the council s unanimous authorization of a $2.45 million construction contract with Marathon based Coral Construction Company to complete Phase IIIA of the city s deep wastewater injection well project. Phase IIIA calls for directional drilling of roughly 5,000 linear feet of 16 inch piping from the Robert Dopps Bridge to the Area 6 wastewater treatment plant. City officials framed the work as part of Marathon s federal settlement obligations to improve wastewater disposal and protect local water quality.

Council members reviewed project financing and timelines during the presentation from the city manager, and authorized the contract to keep the project on schedule. The meeting materials indicated the project is a milestone in Marathon s multiyear effort to meet federal requirements and reduce threats to coastal waters that support local fisheries and tourism. Coral Construction Company is based in Marathon and will carry out the directional drilling and piping installation under the authorized contract.

Beyond the immediate construction decision, the city manager outlined Marathon s priorities for the 2026 Florida legislative session. The list included preserving local ad valorem tax authority, supporting Tourist Development Council use of funds for tourism purposes, and seeking relief and funding to address workforce housing. Those priorities signal how the council plans to balance infrastructure needs with the economic drivers and social challenges facing Monroe County.

The developments carry direct implications for residents. Completing the injection well work is meant to improve wastewater disposal capacity and safeguard water quality that underpins property values, commercial fisheries, and the hospitality industry. The council s legislative agenda touches on tax authority that could influence local revenue streams, on tourism funding that affects promotion and events, and on workforce housing that relates to everyday costs and staffing for local businesses.

As Marathon proceeds with the Phase IIIA contract and coordinates with state and federal partners, residents can expect further updates on construction timing, anticipated impacts to traffic or shoreline access, and follow up actions on the council s legislative outreach for 2026. The session marked a swift start for the newly constituted council as it moved from elections to execution on infrastructure and policy priorities.