New London officials approve shared grant-writer plan, authorize library board to manage project; fund transfers approved

New London — City leaders approved a memorandum of intent to create a part-time shared grant-writer position paid by the city, the chamber and the school district and voted to authorize the Library Museum Board to manage contracts, change orders and payment requests for the library project. The council also approved year-end financial transfers, including a motion to move $325,000 into the 2025 capital fund, $100,000 into the health insurance fund and $50,000 into economic development reserves.

The grant-writer position is proposed as a part-time role of roughly 25 hours per week and would be employed by the chamber, with each of the three partner entities contributing $15,000 annually, according to remarks by Chad (Staff member). Chad described the memorandum of intent before the committee, saying the three entities “were budgeting for a shan shared grant writer services” and that the group would “try this for 2 years and then reevaluate.” Oversight of the position was described as a joint effort led by Chad, April (Community representative) and Scott Bleck (School district representative).

Why it matters: officials said the arrangement mirrors a setup used elsewhere that has helped secure larger grants. Chad told the committee the city of Waupaca “they've seen multiple millions of dollars of, grants that they've been able to secure because of their grant.” The memorandum documents expectations, funding shares and a coordination plan; the item passed by voice vote.

On the libra…