Resident urges countywide letter and grant-writing push after town secures $200,000 grant

Wes Newman, a McCormick resident, used the public comment period at the Feb. 17 McCormick County Council meeting to highlight a recent town council victory — a $200,000 grant tied to a state-sponsored downtown economic development plan — and to urge county action.

Newman proposed a countywide outreach effort: a coordinated letter and email/phone campaign to elected officials, including the mayor, state legislators and members of Congress, asking for assistance with county infrastructure, aging water pipes, and abandoned downtown buildings. He asked the council to finalize and distribute a model letter to residents and to target outreach within 45 days to maximize impact during the election year.

He also recommended that the county consider hiring contract grant writers to pursue funding, noting that professional grant-writing fees are often outweighed by the potential award amounts. "So 1 thing here is in closing is my question to the council especially ... what would you rather be known for? Contacting our elected officials ... or just sit back and hope for the best," Newman said.

Council members acknowledged the town's plan and discussed that county staff are preparing cost estimates and project outlines for water and sewer work; staff said they expect a rough plan in the next 60 days to support any future legislative funding requests.

Next steps: Council and staff will continue work on cost estimates and project plans; Newman requested a 45-day outreach window for a resident-driven campaign. The transcript does not record council formal action to start the campaign during the Feb. 17 meeting.