[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6694057,"mediaKeyId","3379239-fce06ac64b6530778e79f854769b6d41","parentId",3379239,"title","Bluff council approves subaward agreement with Rural Utah Project Education Fund despite federal grant pause","audioSeconds",450,"startMs",164000,"endMs",614000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3379239-fce06ac64b6530778e79f854769b6d41&start=164&end=614","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6694057/Utah/Bluff-council-approves-subaward-agreement-with-Rural-Utah-Project-Education-Fund-despite-federal-grant-pause","mediaUrl","author","Bluff Town Council","date","2025-01-28T16:00:00Z","article","The Bluff Town Council voted unanimously Jan. 28 to approve a subaward agreement naming the Rural Utah Project Education Fund (doing business as Stewardship Utah) as a subawardee on an Environmental Protection Agency government-to-government grant.

Council members said the decision keeps local preparation and partner work moving while the federal grant program is temporarily paused. The council discussed a conflict-resolution clause and a compliance-and-monitoring appendix but approved the agreement as drafted.

Project manager Malia Collins told the council she and partner staff “have put together our document of our partnership agreement between town of Bluff as well as rural Utah project education fund.” Collins noted the group circulated the draft to council and staff for review.

Lanice Peterman, who identified herself as the rural director for the Rural Utah Project Education Fund and as “the mayor of Helper,” introduced the partner organization and said it will operate under its 501(c)(3) name while partnering on the project. Peterman said the group has worked with Bluff staff previously and is “excited to partner with you all to get this community center building activated and, to help in whatever way we can.”

Council discussion focused on two contract details: the dispute-resolution provision (identified in the document as section 5) and the compliance-and-monitoring procedures in the agreement appendix (page 9). Town staff and council members said those sections are generic and can be tightened later. The council discussed that one member of staff — identified as Chris in the meeting — had not yet reviewed the draft but that other reviewers had, and no substantive objections had been raised in the meeting.

Council members noted that the EPA and related federal grants are currently on hold following a court injunction. One council member summarized the situation: federal officials have paused the grants, and “by some day early in February, the federal government is supposed to outline what grants are affected.” The council voted to approve the subaward agreement so partnership work can continue while the broader legal and federal grant status is clarified.

Motion and vote: a motion to approve the subaward agreement was made and seconded; the council approved the agreement by unanimous voice vote. The meeting record does not show a roll-call tally.

The council did not adopt changes to the agreement at the meeting; members said staff and the partner organization will follow up on tightening dispute-resolution language and on the drawdown/compliance language in the appendix as needed.

A forward-looking note: council remarks indicated that final federal direction may arrive in early February, and the town plans to continue partner coordination pending that guidance.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Bluff Town Council Regular Meeting - 250124_1309","oneSentenceSummary","The Bluff Town Council voted unanimously Jan. 28 to approve a subaward agreement naming the Rural Utah Project Education Fund as a subawardee on an EPA government-to-government grant. Council members said they will proceed while federal grant decisions are temporarily paused by court action.","taxTitle","Bluff, San Juan County, Utah","taxId",79934,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6694052,"Bluff council authorizes pursuit of Utah playground grant for community center; committee to expand",966,651000,1617000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3379239-fce06ac64b6530778e79f854769b6d41&start=651&end=1617","/articles/6694052/Utah/Bluff-council-authorizes-pursuit-of-Utah-playground-grant-for-community-center-committee-to-expand","The Bluff Town Council on Jan. 28 authorized playground committee volunteer Sarah Burack to pursue a Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation Community Parks and Recreation (CPR) grant for improvements at the Bluff Community Center and to add members to the playground committee.

Burack told the council the CPR grant awards range from $5,000 to $200,000 per project, with $2,000,000 available statewide this round. She said the grant requires a 20% match (set by San Juan County), which may be split 50% cash and 50% in-kind; she said the match for a $200,000 request would be $40,000, of which $20,000 would need to be cash and $20,000 could be in-kind. Burack said the application deadline is March 17 and that most awards are distributed in late May or early June; successful projects typically have two years to spend awarded funds.

Burack described a phased proposal. For the Bluff Community Center she said Phase 1 could include a larger multi-age playground, an expanded swing bank, and a half court or pickleball court plus walking-path sections; Phase 2 could add a sports field (softball or soccer), parking, and bleachers. Burack said utilities and site work items such as irrigation, benches, restrooms, and kiosks are eligible costs.

Key details Burack shared in the meeting (verbatim): “The awarding amount is anywhere from 5,000 to, $200,000 for the project. And they have $2,000,000 to award, and they do expect it to be a fairly competitive grant.” On matching funds she said, “That match can be done, 50% as cash and then 50% as in kind donations.” She also noted the deadline: “The due date for the grant is March 17, which is why I appreciate you guys allowing me to be on today's agenda.”

Town manager Aaron told council members the town previously approved capital-project funding that could include playground work; he said he will locate the specific budgeted amount for the council to consider as a potential cash match.

Council discussion favored focusing a single application on the Bluff Community Center rather than submitting two competing applications for both the Bluff Community Center and the Cooperative Cultural Center (CCC). Council members discussed site layout options, suggesting the town could prioritize a playground and a pickleball or half-court surface in a phased build. One council member recommended keeping any still-functional existing playground equipment while adding new structures.

Motion and vote: the council moved to authorize Sarah Burack to pursue the CPR grant for the community center and to broaden the playground committee; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote. The meeting record does not show a roll-call tally.

Next steps identified in the meeting: Burack and the playground committee will refine a project plan and target dollar request between now and the March 17 application deadline; Aaron will report back on available capital-project funds to inform the cash-match decision.","The Bluff Town Council unanimously authorized volunteer Sarah Burack and the playground committee Jan. 28 to pursue a Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation community parks and recreation grant for play and sports facilities at the Bluff Community Center and to add committee members.","actionData","errors"]

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Bluff council approves subaward agreement with Rural Utah Project Education Fund despite federal grant pause

Bluff council authorizes pursuit of Utah playground grant for community center; committee to expand