Saline County commissioners approve CDBG application to upgrade senior center

Saline County commissioners on June 10 authorized staff to submit a Community Development Block Grant application to the Kansas Department of Commerce seeking $712,460 to upgrade the county senior center, including parking-lot expansion, sidewalk improvements and a roof replacement.

The action adopted two resolutions (25-24-27 and 25-24-28), approved an anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan, and authorized a contract for architectural services with A Plus Architectural, allowing the application to be submitted on June 13. Rosie Walter, Saline County senior services director, presented the request and asked the commission to sign the required documents so the application could proceed.

Walter said the proposed improvements include parking-lot expansion, lighting and sidewalk upgrades, plus a replacement roof. She told commissioners that the county has already set aside $200,000 for the project and has identified $15,000 in grant funds and $10,000 in donations to supplement a successful CDBG award. Walter said the county will partner with the North Central Kansas Planning Commission to administer CDBG funds if awarded.

John Adam of A. Lehi Architects described the architectural contract and the separate construction administration work that he expects to perform if the project proceeds. Adam said survey work is not included in the architectural contract and estimated a preliminary survey cost of roughly $2,500–$3,000. He also explained that construction administration and project-management services are billed separately from design services and that the final construction price will determine the construction administration fee noted in the contract.

Commissioners asked about the contingency if the CDBG application is unsuccessful. Walter confirmed the project will not proceed under the funded scope unless the grant is awarded; the grant application augments but does not replace the county’s committed funds. The county clerk recorded a motion approving the resolutions, the anti-displacement plan and the architectural contract; a voice vote passed the motion.

Documents included with the application, as listed by staff, are the resolution authorizing the application; an operating-and-maintenance resolution; the anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan; the architectural services contract; a disclosure report; statement of assurances; and a determination of level of review. Walter estimated the Kansas Department of Commerce usual turnaround is about a month for CDBG awards.

If the county receives the grant, staff time will be required to manage the project; Walter said grant administration costs are included in the proposed grant budget. The county will close the application process by signing the presented documents and returning them with the application on June 13.