Franklin County Transportation Committee reviews six grant requests totaling $832,000

Franklin County's Transportation Committee is gearing up to evaluate six grant requests totaling approximately $832,000, but officials acknowledge that available funding will only cover about half of that amount. During a recent meeting, committee members discussed the importance of these requests, which primarily focus on road resurfacing and repairs, as well as a reimbursement for handicap and sidewalk installations.

The requests came from various public entities, including the City of Washington, Washington Special Road District, City of Gerald, City of New Haven, City of Saint Clair, and City of Union. Notably absent from the submissions was the City of Leslie, which has previously expressed concerns about its inability to fund road repairs. Officials clarified that Leslie does not participate in the transportation committee, which may explain their lack of a request.

Committee members discussed the criteria for participation, emphasizing that any new member, like Leslie, would need to petition for inclusion and demonstrate the ability to match funding requirements. For instance, if a municipality has a total project need of $200,000, they must provide 50% of that amount to qualify for assistance.

As the committee prepares to score the requests, recommendations will be shared in the coming days, highlighting the critical need for infrastructure improvements across the county. The outcome of this evaluation could significantly impact local road conditions and community safety.