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Owosso council approves $1 million USDA grant for public safety upgrades
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Summary
Council voted to accept terms for a $1,000,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Facilities grant to fund public safety projects; the acceptance authorizes execution of required documents and starts a 12-month construction timeline requirement.
The Owosso City Council voted to accept the terms of a $1,000,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Community Facilities grant to fund public safety work, Mayor Teich said during the meeting.
City Manager Henney told the council the award was secured through then-Congresswoman, now U.S. Senator Alyssa Slotkin and that the city had a short deadline to complete paperwork. “You have 10 days to get this paperwork signed,” Henney said, adding that the city will have 12 months to begin construction under the grant conditions.
Henney credited Public Safety Director Kevin Blankhart for working with USDA regional staff to secure the decision. Blankhart led the department’s application and subsequent coordination with the USDA regional office in Mason, Henney said.
The resolution authorizes the mayor and staff to execute “all the necessary documents” to accept and administer the grant. Council members cast a roll-call vote approving the acceptance; Councilman Ludington was excused from some votes earlier in the meeting and was not recorded on this roll call. The clerk recorded all present members voting in favor; the motion carried.
Council members did not debate specific contract awards or final construction scopes at the meeting; Henney said the “real work begins” after accepting the grant and cited the 12-month start requirement as the immediate next milestone.
The council’s action authorizes staff to proceed with required paperwork and later bring specific procurement and construction items back to council for approval as needed.