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Cowlitz County gets notice of $550,000 RCO grant for Riverside Park; staff warn of local match shortfall
Summary
Public works staff said the state selected the county for roughly $550,000 in Recreation and Conservation Office funding for Riverside Park legacy projects, but the county currently expects a roughly $250,000 shortfall for the required match and is exploring interfund loans and other sources.
Cowlitz County public works staff told commissioners they were notified that a Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant application for Riverside Park has been selected for approximately $550,000, but staff said the county will need additional local match to move the project forward.
"We did get notice that we, were selected to move forward, which means it's about $550,000 in funding," Public Services Director Mike Moss said. Moss said the county’s planned local match relied on revenue from sales of dredge spoils at the Cook Ferry site under a contract with JL Stordahl; "From we'll get about 300,000 from JL Stordahl," Moss said, adding that was the minimum and that actual sales had fallen short of earlier expectations.
Moss told the board he expected a shortfall of about $250,000 to meet the match requirement. "So about $250,000 is what I'm looking for," he said. He also said the statute governing dredge-spoil revenue directs that that revenue must be used for parks, which was the rationale for using dredge sales as the match source.
County staff said they are exploring additional sources, including interfund loans and other internal funding mechanisms, and will meet with finance staff to determine options. Moss said he would work with the county finance director and staff to present follow-up options to the board.
No formal vote was recorded in the transcript. Staff described the selection for RCO funding as "good news," but emphasized the match requirement and the need to identify funds before the county can proceed with project implementation.
Ending: County staff will pursue funding options for the required local match and return to the board with recommendations; the RCO award is conditional on meeting the grant's match and program requirements.
