The City of Marathon will be taking advantage of delays on central sewers in Islamorada by taking a grab at part of a nearly $5 million grant.

The Army Corps of Engineers funds were Islamorada's allotment from an allocation for the four entities in the Keys for the fiscal year, and the city is mired by indecision on its sewer project.

"After a certain date, the corps will start paying whatever bills they have in hand," said Marathon City Manager Roger Hernstadt. Many of those bills in hand will be from Marathon, which is deep into its own sewer project, though Key Largo and Key West will also be eligible to receive funding. Key West already has a central sewer system, but is upgrading storm water infrastructure.

"It's basically there to be spent," said Councilman Pete Worthington. "We've spent all of ours. The rest appears to go to whoever can get the most work completed in the short time frame."

The city is still pursuing $11 million more from the Army Corps, according to Worthington.

"This puts us closer to what we need, but we're still going for more grant money," he said. "We have a long ways to go before we max out our federal commitment made in 1999."

The funds aren't earmarked for specific projects, but will pay for bills already sent to the Army Corps for reimbursement. Worthington hopes some of this unexpected funding can be used to offset operations and maintenance costs -- about $35 per month -- that will show up on sewer bills for all Marathon residents.

"The $10 million we plugged in for grants [expected to come later] ... I've been told is only responsible for about $4 per household on the bill," he said. "But it would be a reduction. I would want a good look at that from the finance director. I hope it would be more of a reduction."

Hernstadt isn't sure the extra funding will lead to a reduction, but sees the upside as helping residents in the long run.

"Theoretically, the more reimbursements we get, the more money for [operations and maintenance]," he said. "Likely it will lengthen the life of the current rates, and we may be able to stave off an increase."