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Staff reports: Franklin County staff update commissioners on grants, septic funding, local projects and youth program
Summary
County staff told the Franklin County Commission they are preparing a federal appropriations request due March 7, secured septic repair funding, discussed Towns grants and local projects including Proximity Park, and reported $2,000 Network Kansas support for a youth entrepreneurship event.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Feb. 5 — County staff provided a series of program and grant updates at the Feb. 5 Franklin County Commission meeting, including a federal appropriations submission, septic-system repair funding, small-community Towns grants and local economic-development projects.
County staff said they are preparing a federal appropriations proposal to submit to Representative Charice's office by the March 7 deadline; staff noted the representative reviews district proposals and forwards selected projects for consideration in federal appropriations. Paul and Jeff were identified as working on the application. Staff described the federal process as competitive and slow-moving but said they are preparing materials so the county can respond if funding becomes available.
Commission staff reported approval has been received for state grant funding to repair septic systems; those funds are expected to arrive at the state financial office around mid-March. Staff also noted approvals to perform house-level inspections in Princeton and Richmond with an explicit limitation: inspectors will assess homes only and will not inspect or work on infrastructure such as public sewer lines.
Staff described an active effort to pursue Towns grants through the State of Kansas, which staff characterized as awards of up to $10,000 that require a 10% local match and are intended for communities with populations under 5,000. The county is working with Princeton on a potential new HVAC system for a community building and with Wellsville on a downtown sound system.
On economic-development projects, staff said the Proximity Park project is "moving forward nicely" and reported ongoing cooperation from the city of Ottawa and partner organizations. Staff also said they are meeting monthly with Wood O'Brien, the state's contractor to support grant submissions, to identify additional opportunities.
Staff provided an update on youth programs: the county's youth entrepreneurship event at the end of the month has five teams enrolled so far and received a $2,000 grant from Network Kansas to help support the event.
Staff noted membership renewal outreach for the Franklin County Development Corporation (FCDC) and reported Panasonic has joined FCDC.
No formal votes were taken on the grant-application activities during the meeting; staff said follow-up work will continue and that several items depend on state or federal approvals.
