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Council approves grant-writing agreement via GMC Utility Trust to pursue water and infrastructure funds
Summary
Council approved, as beneficiary, a GMC Utility Trust agreement to hire Choosing Charity LLC to pursue grant funding for water storage, pump stations and larger regional transmission projects discussed for the Highway 37/County Line corridor.
The Tuttle City Council voted to approve, as a beneficiary of the GMC Utility Trust Authority, a proposed grant-writing agreement between the trust and Choosing Charity LLC.
Council discussion framed the agreement as a mechanism to actively pursue federal and state infrastructure funds specifically for projects in the Highway 37 and County Line Road area, including an immediate $10 million water storage and pump-station project staff said is urgent. During discussion council members and staff described three tiers of proposed water projects: (1) an immediate $10 million storage and pump project; (2) a potential 24-inch line across the river to serve Tuttle and Blanchard (estimated in the tens of millions); and (3) a long-range 48-inch transmission line that would serve multiple south-of-river communities and could cost well over $100 million.
Staff explained that hiring an independent grant-writing consultant through the GMC Utility Trust would allow pursuit of funds specifically for Tuttle and partner communities rather than relying on regional providers that pursue grants on behalf of many jurisdictions. Staff said Choosing Charity's representative has engaged congressional and senatorial staff and indicated preliminary support for funding in the immediate project area.
Council expressed concern about coordination and the need to carve this work out so it does not simply compete with regional applications processed by entities such as ACOG. Staff said the GMC Utility Trust structure is meant to benefit participating entities and that this agreement would be for the trust; beneficiaries must approve indebtedness under the cited state statute. The motion to approve the proposed agreement passed unanimously.
Staff said next steps include executing the agreement at the trust level, receiving consultant work plans, and identifying specific grant applications and timelines. Staff cautioned that some projects would still require engineering, interagency approvals and long timeframes for construction even if grant funding is secured.
