The city of Quitman has engaged Traylor and Associates to oversee a $300,000 grant.

The Quitman City Council approved the company last Thursday.

The grant is from the 2022 Resilient Communities program and will not require matching funds from the city.

City Administrator James Attaway said he heard about the grant program at a recent conference. Funds remain available even though it is a program from 2022.

The city plans to use the money to develop an updated strategic plan and to bring the city building codes forward.

The city is using the 2012 codes, and Attaway suggested the city look at the 2018 version of the codes.

He also briefed the council on a downtown revitalization grant that he will be seeking.

The city could use it to upgrade sidewalks and lighting around the courthouse square. It would require a 20% match.

The council also named Attaway to serve as the city’s emergency management coordinator.

Each mayor is responsible for the city’s emergency response mechanism, including the naming of a coordinator to serve as the central information and communications contact.

The council approved increases to the water and sewer tap fees, which were raised for the first time in many years after comparing Quitman’s rates to other area cities.