Bainbridge looking at disaster recovery grant money
BAINBRIDGE -- Town council members voted to have Town Clerk Jason Hartman pursue a grant from disaster recovery monies to rehabilitate the water tower.
The grant would be for $800,000-$900,000 and work would include stripping the lead-based paint from the outside of the water tower and rehabbing it. It also includes updating the electric in the water plant and providing fixed base water meters throughout the town.
Matching funds are not required for the grant. Applications for the grant money are due July 2.
Hartman was quick to assure the board that there is no lead paint on the inside of the tower and the quality of water is not affected.
"The inside was redone years ago and it has not had any lead paint," said Hartman.
Another issue Hartman got permission to pursue further was obtaining costs for a recycling center in Bainbridge. The three major issues that need further research are where to take the recycled goods, where to locate the trailer and who to have build the trailer for the center.
Hartman and Utility Supervisor Jim Nelson visited a site in Waynetown with a trailer on wheels similar to what they are looking at putting in place in Bainbridge.
"The area was really clean and the trailer they had built worked really well. The company who made that trailer is no longer in business, but we are talking to some other people who can build it," said Harman.
"This is the idea I had for a trailer," said Town Council President Richard Cope. "I really like the trailer idea. Hopefully, we will have things laid out by the next town council meeting."
Hartman and Nelson also reported the town's clean up day was successful.
"We saw a lot of people. I think it was a success," stated Nelson.
The town only used six dumpsters, down five from the first year.
"Much of the stuff coming in is going down. The first year we had maybe 50 refrigerators and this year I think we only had about three. We took out 93 stumps the first year and only 20 this year. I think people don't have as much junk anymore," said Nelson.
Town Marshall Rodney Fenwick gave credit to prisoners from county corrections and the prison as well as the local fire department for their help with projects during the event.
"I heard comments the very next day about how several places looked so much better with the brush and stuff gone," said Nelson.
The Bainbridge Town Council meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.