By Nate Smith, Staff Writer
The Washington City Council heard more details Monday about two grants the city will receive in 2010.
The first grant, discussed during the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, is for a $500,000 downtown revitalization grant. The board voted 2-0 to allow the Southern Indiana Development Commission to be the grant administrators. Board member Dr. John Gray was absent.
Greg Jones with SIDC told the board the contract allows them to deal with state and federal issues that come with the grant.
“They work very closely with us,” Mayor Larry Haag said. “They have for years and they do a very good job.”
The contract, worth $20,500, is covered by the grant funds. Haag told the board and other council members that a seven-member committee has been formed to help with the design and placement of the sidewalks.
Haag said the grant, provided by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, covers sidewalks from SR 57 to N.E. First Street, but he felt with low bid prices, the sidewalks could be extended to Meridian Street.
This money could not be spent anywhere else in the community,” Haag said. “We were fortunate to receive $500,000.”
Construction is slated to begin in the spring.
The other grant Public Works approved was the annual grant from INDOT to help with transit funding.
The state and federal money, about $89,276, is about 60 percent of total funding for 2010, Street Commissioner Ernie Evans said.
Evans said with increased efficiency like new routes and less overtime, the city’s part of the funding will be less than in previous years.
“There’s a lot of people that depend on that bus,” Evans said.
The Board approved Haag signing the paperwork to receive the funding.
In other business
UTILITY TRUCK USAGE
The Public Works Board also voted for increasing the rates the city charges insurance and the federal and state government for use of utility vehicles.
When a major accident or a disaster occurs and utility equipment such as poles or transformers have to be replaced, a fee is set to charge the government or insurance companies for the replacement.
The increases will not affect rate payers, Haag said, other than help put funds in the utility department.
TRANSFERS
The council approved four transfers in budgets to cover expenses for the end of the year. In the engineering department, $700 was transferred from supplies to pay for mileage and a seminar at Purdue University. At City Hall, $1,700 was transferred from maintenance to supplies for the building, covering expenses over budget. A recording system for the council chambers was paid for with a $510 transfer in the Clerk-Treasurer’s budget and $350 was transferred in the Animal Control budget to pay for a two-way radio in the department’s van.
TOYS FOR TYKES
The local ABATE chapter was given permission by The Public Works Board to collect money at the intersection of N.E. 21st and State streets on Nov. 21 for its annual Toys for Tykes fundraiser. The money will be used for to purchase toys for the less fortunate during the holidays.
PROCLAMATION
Haag read a proclamation to proclaim this week as Red Ribbon Week. Local schools and agencies are planning events for drug prevention awareness.
“We appreciate what you do,” Haag said.
