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Things looking up regarding Fillmore stormwater grant
FILLMORE — With the deadline upcoming, confidence in Fillmore receiving a state grant for stormwater improvements has been boosted.
Holding a final public hearing on the matter, the Fillmore Town Council heard on Thursday from grant administrator Kristy Jerrell and Jared Snoble of HWC Engineering how a Community Development Block Grant from the Office of Community Rural Affairs (OCRA) will address said improvements.
The total project cost has been estimated at $796,255. As to the grant request, its total maximum is $600,000, with a local match from the town set at $196,255. While $5,000 is already paid for an environmental review, $99,000 will come from a low-interest flood control loan through the State Revolving Fund.
After Jerrell and Clerk Works’ Monica Bray pled the town’s case, the county commissioners recently agreed to give $92,255 out of its American Rescue Plan Act allotment. This is as Fillmore’s stormwater is being considered a regional project.
“This grant is all about chasing the points,” Jerrell said about how projects are scored by OCRA. To that, she said the town’s proposal will make the minimum score of 450 out of 700 points.
Meanwhile, Snoble detailed the project’s design focused on drainage south from Old Right of Way Road to Fourth Street.
This line will be a new trunk sewer on the east side of Main Street. Inlets and low spots susceptible to ponding are also to be repaired. According to the design, the water would be discharged to a stream along existing agricultural land.
The grant application is due by the end of the day on Dec. 22. Based on awards given this year, Jerrell said an announcement on Fillmore’s project will be expected in February.
“I think that our chances are good,” Jerrell said finally about submitting the project. “I think we have a good application.”
“I believe the north end of town duly deserves this,” Council President Meredith Trusty commented on citizens’ parts. “They’ve been waiting a long time for something to happen.”
In other business:
• The council conducted its first readings of Ordinance 2023-3 and Ordinance 2023-5, respectively.
The first sets out a policy regarding the town’s capital assets, which includes buildings, vehicles and infrastructure, as well as construction in progress and land improvements. The policy outlines how inventories, transfers and depreciation will be managed.
The second concerns the town’s metered water rates for 2024. They are to be set as the following:
• Zero to 2,000 gallons: $39.17, up from $38.20 in 2023;
• Next 8,000 gallons: $15.44, up from $15.30 in 2023;
• Next 10,000 gallons: $14.46, up from $14.32 in 2023;
• Over 20,000 gallons: $12.68, up from $12.55 in 2023; and
• Fire hydrants: $125 per year.
• Bray reported that the town’s audit by the State Board of Accounts was closed out recently. It covered the period from 2019 to 2022 and emphasized disbursements and receipts being reviewed monthly by at least two council members.
“When the state comes in and audits us, it’s not free,” Trusty said to the audit’s approximate $23,000 cost. Bray added that because of organization beforehand, the process was shortened by a few weeks.
Bray noted that the town’s metered water rates had to be lowered by at least one percent next year, due to the state rescinding its utility receipts tax. The new rates denote a two-percent decrease (i.e., $39.17 instead of $39.35, $15.44 instead of $15.75, etc.).
• The council adopted Resolution 2023-4 authorizing a dormant account with First National Bank being closed. The account, which was for monies from water meter payments, will be consolidated into the town’s General Fund account. The account held $8,268.19.
C.J. Huller was also recognized for his serving on the council. Having not run for re-election this year, he will be succeeded by Jeff Haltom next month.
“Since he was born and raised in this town, he knows the town pretty good,” Trusty commented. “He really did the town a lot of great service.”
“I appreciate everybody and the town, and I think we’ve done a pretty decent job the last several years,” Huller said for his part. “I have enjoyed working with everyone.”
With Utilities Operator Joe Cash and Town Attorney Jeff Boggess absent, Clerk-Treasurer Andi Schardt and Councilman Jerry Huff also attended the meeting.
The next regular meeting of the Fillmore Town Council is set for Thursday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Fillmore Town Hall. All meetings moving forward will be held on the second Thursday of the month.