Cache County weighs CDBG project priorities, approves $350 COSAC mailer

Cache County councilors reviewed proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) ideas and approved a $350 mailing to promote open-space conservation applications.

Alma Burgess, the county’s grant administrator, summarized input from a Nov. 4 public hearing and clarified that the Cache Community Food Bank application should be processed through the Bear River Association of Governments (BRAGG) because it serves a regional service area. Burgess outlined proposed local applications including ADA restroom work at the airport (potentially eligible), Meals on Wheels vehicles, a split HVAC unit for a senior-center ceramics room, land acquisition for a new senior center, and requests from local fire districts for a frontline apparatus and a north-end fire station.

Burgess said BRAGG set a regional submission deadline of Dec. 1 to allow time to vet applications before the state’s January deadline. Council members discussed prioritization, match requirements and noted that total local project cost estimates are likely to exceed the region’s roughly $1,000,000 allocation. Burgess agreed to produce an itemized list of applications with cost estimates and a simple ranking to aid council prioritization.

Eric Lewisohn, representing the Cache Open Space Advisory Committee (COSAC), proposed a targeted mailer to roughly 150 landowners in high-visibility vista and agricultural corridors to increase awareness of conservation-easement options. He estimated postage and materials at up to $350 and said the mailer would target landowners likely to keep land in agriculture. “It’d be targeting landowners wishing to keep land in agriculture for a win-win solution,” Lewisohn said.

A motion to approve $350 for the COSAC mailer (to be funded from debt service) was made and passed by voice vote.