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DeKalb County to issue RFP after $500,000 EPA brownfields assessment award
Summary
County staff told commissioners DeKalb County won a $500,000 EPA brownfields assessment grant covering phase‑1 environmental work countywide; commissioners authorized staff to proceed with an RFQ/RFP and the procurement process to select a consultant.
DeKalb County staff told commissioners the county was awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fund brownfields Phase I environmental assessments across unincorporated areas and participating municipalities.
"We were awarded $500,000 from the EPA to assess brownfields here in DeKalb County," Chris, an economic development staff member, told the board, adding the funds will be held by the auditor's office and used to pay consultant draws as projects are identified.
Anton, who helped prepare the RFQ/RFP, said the county initially listed five or six candidate sites in the work plan (including a former bus garage in Waterloo and a vacant lot and former foundry sites in Butler and Auburn) but cautioned some sites may be ineligible once investigations begin. The grant covers primarily Phase I assessment work; if funds remain, staff may seek Phase II support.
Commissioners authorized Anton, Chris and Susan to proceed with the RFP process, to open bids locally and later return to the board with a consultant recommendation and contract for approval. "We'll open the bids here, take them under advisement, and then look at each bid based off the criteria of the RFP," Chris said.
The county's approach is countywide to allow smaller municipalities that could not apply on their own to access assessment funds. Staff said the grant period runs through Sept. 30, 2028, and the next steps include conducting the RFP, selecting a contractor, notifying the EPA of the selection and beginning site eligibility work.
Commissioners moved and seconded the request to start the RFQ/RFP process; the motion carried.
The board expects to consider a consultant recommendation and a contract once procurement is complete.
