The city of Archer accepted a $5.7 million grant this month to support its new wastewater treatment facility, bringing the project’s total projected state funding to $65 million. 

City Attorney Scott Walker shared the news during a regular City Commission meeting on Monday and said he is more excited now than ever to be on Archer’s team because of how it will help Archer climb out of its financial setbacks.  

To date, Walker said state funding for the wastewater project totals $26.8 million, including the $14 million capacity payment that will go towards the regional advanced wastewater treatment facility.  

He also said the state sees Archer as a top priority for receiving another $38.5 million when funding is available. 

Walker said state Sen. Stan McClain, R-Ocala, was instrumental in securing the recent grant and brought experience from helping Marion County with a similar wastewater project during his time as a commissioner. 

McClain worked with Mike New of Woodard & Curran and, according to Walker, believes Archer’s existing grants can be used to pay down the city’s $818,955.56 line of debt with Ameris Bank. 

If the grants can cover the wastewater project—which aims to create more affordable rates for residents and developers—and provide additional funding needed to hire a full-time city manager for long-term stability, Walker said Archer is on track for permanent, positive change. 

“I think, amongst difficulty, you are on track. Just think of what that does to our balance sheet overall,” he said. “I think there’s change afoot. I think it will happen. It will happen in a positive direction.” 

Until Archer can fund a full-time city manager, the commission voted to extend interim City Manager Deanna Alltop’s contract.  

The contract for Alltop, who did not attend Monday’s meeting after taking a medical leave of absence that morning, expired on Nov. 12.  

The new extension ends May 12, 2026, or when a permanent city manager is hired or at the will of the commission to terminate the contract earlier. 

Mayor Fletcher Hope read aloud Alltop’s email regarding her absence. Alltop did not specify why or how long she’d be gone but said she’d be able to continue her work remotely. 

Commissioner Karen Fiore asked the dais to reconsider extending the contract. She said it should wait until Alltop provides medical documentation justifying the absence and a list of which parts of her job she can or can’t do. 

“The employee put herself on medical leave without any documentation to her boss, the mayor, and we’re now going to adopt the contract,” she said. “I don’t find that that’s appropriate order.” 

Fiore made a motion to hire Archer resident Bill Lewandowski as an interim part-time city manager during Alltop’s absence and until the city finds a full-time manager, but the motion was not seconded.  

Vice Mayor Iris Bailey said Alltop does have a medical condition and did go to the doctor. Commissioner Marilyn Green said removing Alltop from her position during her illness would be a kick in the face without giving her a chance to respond. 

Hope said he’ll find a way to contact Alltop directly to ask what work she’ll be able to do moving forward and how long she’ll be remote.