Most of Monday evening’s Eureka Springs City Council meeting centered around working with Catherine Baker, Community and Economic Development Coordinator for the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District, to apply for Community Development Block Grants and other grant opportunities.
She said municipal issues that fit well with priorities for CDBG funding were water and wastewater projects and drainage and flooding issues, as well as community needs like alleviating homelessness, assisting victims of domestic abuse and confronting health problems.
Baker noted she had already identified two projects she could pursue, but protocol required there must be a public hearing so citizens could identify their priorities.
Alderman Terry McClung asked if CDBGs could help with the dams at Black Bass Lake and Lake Leatherwood, and she replied she has been eyeing the dam at Black Bass Lake as a grant target already, but found in preliminary research it was an “unexpectedly challenging” target for funding, but she was exploring other options.
Former alderman James DeVito noted a grant for repairing the city’s aging wastewater system would be helpful because all the springs were no longer potable due to wastewater pollution, and the city needs help funding an upgrade of the wastewater system.
Baker said she was proposing a $270,000 project to upgrade piping in the wastewater system from two to six inches, and was confidant she could submit that proposal on time.
She pointed out that scheduling the grant applications was important because the city could apply for only one CDBG each year. Deadlines are in March with a response coming in June, and this year her focus will be on water/wastewater projects. She also applies for smaller grants that are due in August.
Baker also submits grants that could assist the Fire Department get emergency equipment and help the city improve sidewalks.
Required with a CDBG proposal are the following five resolutions, which must be approved by city council which they did. All were approved unanimously.
- Resolution 743 authorized the city to submit an Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program grant application to the State of Arkansas.
- Resolution 744 affirmed the city’s fair housing and equal opportunity policy.
- Resolution 745 established an anti-displacement plan for the city in compliance with Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program grants.
- Resolution 746 established a policy prohibiting the use of excessive force by law enforcement under the city’s jurisdiction against individuals engaged in non-violent civil rights demonstrations.
- Resolution 747 designated the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District as the CDBG grant administrator for the city water/wastewater grant project.