Warren County agrees to front $778,000 for conservation board trail project, pledges up to $85,000 match

The Warren County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to authorize the county to front $778,000 in project costs related to a state recreational trails grant application and to provide up to $85,000 toward the local match if the Warren County Conservation Board wins the award.

The request came from a representative of the Warren County Conservation Board, identified in the record as Zach, who asked supervisors to consider a resolution to cover upfront costs and a second resolution to assist with matching funds. Zach said the full remaining project cost is $778,000 and that the grant requires a cash match to apply: “We are required to have 25 of that total cost in hand to cover us match … which is a total of a hundred and $94,500.” He told the board Friends of the Warren County Conservation Board would contribute $25,000 and asked the supervisors to cover the remaining $85,000.

The board approved two separate motions. In the first, supervisors agreed to allow the county to front the $778,000 costs and be reimbursed by grant proceeds and matching funds if the grant is awarded. In the second, the board approved covering up to $85,000 of required matching funds. Roll-call votes showed the motions carried with Supervisors Erickson, DeWitt, Arnold, McIntyre, Ashton and Cook recorded as voting in favor.

Why it matters: the county will pay project costs up front and be reimbursed only if the conservation board receives the state recreational trails grant. Zach said the grant reimbursement portion is $583,000 if awarded and that the county’s contribution would be repaid from grant proceeds and partner contributions.

Supervisors also approved an interfund operating transfer tied to the conservation department. County staff presented a resolution to transfer $50,000 from the general fund to the conservation reserve fund for fiscal year 2024–25; the board approved that transfer by roll call. Officials described a second transfer (approximately $85,000) tied to next fiscal year as contingent on the outcome of the state trails grant and noted roughly $27,000 of that amount is expected as a near-term transfer based on current budget balances.

Discussion and limits: supervisors asked for clarification of the numbers during the meeting. Zach said the application’s remaining cost was $778,000 and that raising the local match to roughly 30% (by adding the Friends’ contribution and county funds) would improve the proposal’s score in the state grant evaluation. The board’s approvals authorize county staff to proceed with the financing structure described; they do not themselves award the state grant.

The board recorded the measures as formal resolutions and directed staff to prepare the paperwork necessary to front funds and effect the approved interfund transfer. The county’s reimbursement depends on the conservation board’s receipt of state grant proceeds and any pledged partner funds.