The Parowan City Council voted July 31 to approve a scope of work and fee for Jones & DeMille Engineers to prepare the preliminary engineering report and help prepare an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant application for an airport loop road and associated utility upgrades.

City Manager Dan Jessen told the council Jones & DeMille will prepare the engineer’s report required to apply for the EDA grant and assist with the application. The firm proposed a planning-services fee of approximately $10,000 for engineering work plus environmental and cultural-resource work estimated at $20,000 for a total immediate fee of $30,000. Jessen said those costs are required to create the grant application; the EDA will not accept the application without the engineering studies and environmental review.

Jessen said the city would have to appropriate the design/application funds up front; if Parowan receives the EDA grant, the federal award would reimburse those expenses. The proposed grant request for construction was described as being on the order of $7,000,000. Jessen said EDA staff had indicated strong interest in projects that support jobs and infrastructure, and that Parowan’s project appears well aligned with program priorities, but that funding is not guaranteed.

Councilors asked whether Jones & DeMille would assist with the grant application; Jessen confirmed they would. The council approved the scope and fee by motion; staff noted the city will record a budget amendment to appropriate the $30,000 and that grant reimbursement would follow if the application is successful.

Ending: With the scope approved, staff will appropriate the $30,000 to begin engineering and grant work and complete the EDA application; if awarded, the grant would reimburse the city’s up-front costs and fund construction of the airport loop road and utilities.