Coffey County authorizes grant administration contract to move $2.645M RAISE trails planning forward

The Coffey County Commission authorized the Chair to sign a professional services agreement with Western Consultants (packet notes: doing business as Governmental Assistant Services) to provide grant administration services for the county’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) planning award for a countywide trails design.

Economic Development Director Ginny Tapman told the board the Federal Highway Administration notified the county of the award — $2,645,000 — but the federal execution of the grant agreement is still pending. Staff reported they submitted a draft agreement to their FHWA project officer and received an initial approval to move the document up the chain. Because the awarded planning grant does not include funds earmarked for administration, staff proposed contracting with Western Consultants for grant administration at $150 per hour, estimated at roughly 10 hours per month, not to exceed $36,000 over the project term. Tapman said the county could cover those administration costs with economic development funds already encumbered in her office’s budget.

Commissioners asked about the scope: the proposed administrator would handle monthly reporting, invoice review, reimbursement submissions and compliance with FHWA requirements while the county proceeds to issue an RFP for engineering and further community engagement. Commissioners voted to authorize the Chair to sign the professional services agreement and directed staff to proceed with grant administration preparations while awaiting FHWA’s final signature.