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Council approves $375,000 Fish & Game grant for Jordan Road salamander crossing
Summary
Council accepted a $375,000 New Hampshire Fish & Game grant to design and build the Jordan Road Salamander Crossing with a 10% local match in donated time/in-kind services; vote passed despite some council opposition.
Keene — The Keene City Council voted Dec. 8 to accept a $375,000 grant from the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department to fund engineering, permitting and construction for the Jordan Road Salamander Crossing, a wildlife-crossing project the finance committee described as the Jefferson Salamander Crossing.
Councilor Thomas F. Powers, moving the committee report, said the grant will fund the crossing work and that the city’s 10 percent commitment will be met through donated staff time and volunteer assistance. “We’ve been very fortunate to have the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department partnering with us … $375,000, and we have a 10% city commitment,” Powers said.
Council debate included objections from Councilor Mitchell H. Greenwall, who said he could not support the expenditure for a salamander tunnel. “I cannot stand behind $375,000 for a salamander tunnel,” Greenwall said, adding he preferred other uses for comparable funds. Councilor Andrew M. Madison and other supporters noted the funding was designated by Fish & Game for this purpose and could not be reallocated.
The motion to carry out the intent of the committee report passed by the council (the meeting recorded the result as 13 in favor, 2 opposed). Immediately afterward, the council authorized the manager to accept in-kind donations from the Harris Center for Conservation Education to support the project.
What’s next: Staff will proceed with design and permitting work supported by the grant and coordinate donated time and in-kind contributions for the 10% local commitment.
