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County grants manager updates board on broadband, safer‑roads planning and airport work; Amador Water Agency seeks federal appropriations
Summary
County grants staff told Supervisors the grant pipeline now includes substantial broadband awards, a safer‑roads planning grant and applications for park and airport improvements; the board also heard an appeal from Amador Water Agency seeking federal funds for treatment‑plant upgrades.
General Services staff updated the Board of Supervisors on an active pipeline of federal, state and regional grants and asked supervisors to prioritize where staff should focus implementation and future applications.
Karen Lorberton, grants manager, said nine active grants are in various stages of implementation and noted a major regional broadband award (more than $57 million) in planning for last‑mile work. She also described an awarded “safer roads” planning grant (about $800,000 award with county in‑kind match) that will produce a prioritized, shovel‑ready list of safety‑related projects (shoulder improvements, turn lanes, intersection safety, etc.) intended to position the county for larger implementation grants. An RFP for a consultant to complete the safer‑roads study is published and will include public outreach and jurisdiction coordination.
Lorberton presented a list of candidate projects and asked supervisors to indicate priorities. Supervisors identified roads and public‑works equipment as the highest priority, followed by park improvements (Pioneer Park phases), airport building upgrades and EV‑charging infrastructure as later priorities.
The county also has planning activity and applications for Pioneer Park improvements, a pilot for EV charging (“Amador plug‑in”), and ongoing airport building upgrades that could include ADA improvements and public amenities if funding is secured.
Representatives of the Amador Water Agency (AWA) attended and requested board support for a federal appropriation for the Tanner treatment plant, describing a significant need for capital work to improve both capacity and reliability. Susan Peters, AWA board president, said the AWA seeks an earmark around $21 million for Tanner plant upgrades and that the agency has bonded roughly $19 million for Ione‑area improvements in a separate package. The AWA argued the projects are necessary to maintain service reliability and public safety; supervisors discussed the interdependence of infrastructure, economic development and public works obligations.
Ending: Supervisors told grants staff to prioritize roads‑related grants and park improvements and to continue working with the Amador Water Agency on federal and state funding strategies. Staff will return with more developed grant strategies and project lists for the board’s review.
