Commissioners back short-term amendment to grants policy so county can accept FHWA Safe Streets for All payment terms
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Summary
Staff asked commissioners to amend the county's fiscal review and grants administration policy to include expedited payment language required by the Federal Highway Administration for a $545,000 Safe Streets for All grant; commissioners supported moving the amendment forward.
Mary O'Neil, Jefferson County director of grants and procurement, and Gary Markle briefed the commissioners about a targeted amendment to the county’s Fiscal Review and Administration of Grants policy tied to a $545,000 Safe Streets for All grant awarded in 2023.
Why it matters: Federal funders (Federal Highway Administration/Department of Transportation) required policy language addressing the urgency with which the county will process grant payments. Staff said the funder insisted on explicit language in the county policy before proceeding; the county already included the language in its internal ACFAR but FHWA wanted it in the policy itself.
Staff also recommended a short clarification to acknowledge the county handles a range of federal funding rules (for example, 2 CFR 200 applies to many but not all federal grants). The proposed amendment clarifies that the county will follow funder directions where grants fall outside 2 CFR 200.
Board action: Commissioners voiced unanimous support for moving the targeted amendment forward so the county can meet the funder’s requirements and proceed with the Safe Streets for All grant. No vote record was taken during the briefing; staff said a formal agenda item will move forward to adopt the change.
Ending: Staff said the amendment is an interim fix while a larger rewrite of the grants policy is in progress; commissioners asked staff to return with the revised full policy when ready.