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Coffey County OKs contract to manage $2.645M RAISE trails planning grant, authorizes $36,000 administration cap
Summary
The commission authorized Western Consultants to provide grant-administration services for the county’s $2.645 million RAISE trails planning grant at $150/hour not to exceed $36,000, with funds to come from the economic development fund; commissioners discussed scope, easements and future implementation funding.
The Coffey County Commission on Nov. 17 authorized the chairman to sign a professional‑services agreement with Western Consultants (doing business as Governmental Assistant Services in the packet) to administer a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant awarded for countywide trails design.
Economic Development Director Ginny Tapman (listed in portions of the transcript as both “Jenny” and “Ginny”) told commissioners the Federal Highway Administration had awarded the county a $2,645,000 planning grant for trails design and that the county had submitted a draft grant agreement to the FHWA project officer. Tapman said the FHWA award covers engineering/design work only and does not fund local grant administration; to avoid delays she proposed contracting Western Consultants at $150 per hour not to exceed $36,000 (calculated as roughly 10 hours/month over up to two years), with payment coming from the county economic development fund.
Commissioners asked for clarifications about scope, easements, environmental review and whether the design would obligate all communities in the county to participate. Tapman and staff said the RAISE award covers planning and design (not construction), that the engineering work would identify easement needs and maintenance responsibilities, and that individual communities could opt in or out of later implementation phases. Tapman said the county extended the grant deadline for expending funds to Dec. 31, 2027 in the draft agreement to allow adequate time for planning and next steps.
Commissioner McCurry moved and Peterson seconded a motion to authorize the chairman to sign the professional‑services agreement with Western Consultants for grant administration not to exceed $36,000; the board approved the motion by voice vote.
Board members directed staff to bring the finalized grant agreement and the Western Consultants contract into the official project file so the county can proceed with an RFP for engineering design once the FHWA executes its counterpart signature.
