Scottsburg council approves $750,000 stormwater grant application, commits $151,405 local match after hearing

The Scottsburg City Council voted Monday to authorize a $750,000 grant application and a $151,405 local match to fund drainage improvements on Larry Lane and rehabilitation of the Bird Run stream corridor.

Neil Brook, introduced at the meeting, said the application timeline calls for a proposal due April 3 and a full application by June 5 and urged residents to review project plans and ask questions. A staff member described the project as two primary components: installing storm sewer and curb-and-gutter on Larry/Lumberton lanes and stabilizing stream banks and replacing culverts east of the railroad behind the Armory. "The grant would be for $750,000," the staff member said, and the council read that the city would commit $151,405 from rainy-day funds as the contingent local match.

The measure to submit the application and the accompanying corporate community priority statement were approved unanimously after limited discussion. The council then adopted Resolution 2026‑R, which authorizes the mayor to prepare and submit the grant application to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs and to execute necessary agreements in accordance with the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and applicable HUD rules. The resolution makes the local funding commitment contingent on receiving the external grant award.

During public comment, Miss Barrington, a resident who said she has lived near an unnamed ravine stream since 1968, urged the council to address recurring flooding. "Three times, it has flooded 6 feet deep," she said, recalling a heavy-rain event on Aug. 8, 1998, and warned that a proposed retention pond "won't solve anything" and could breed mosquitoes. Council members asked whether the project would address historic problem spots, including a low crossing near the museum at Main Street and Bird Road; staff replied portions of that area were included in assessments and acknowledged photos were taken on March 3.

A council member asked whether the grant requires repayment; Neil Brook said the funding is a straight grant and does not require repayment. The staff presentation included varying figures for the local match in the spoken record; the resolution adopted by the council specifies a $151,405 commitment.

Votes at a glance: the council unanimously approved (1) acceptance of the Feb. 23, 2026 minutes as presented, (2) the corporate community priority statement prioritizing stormwater infrastructure for the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs application, and (3) Resolution 2026‑R authorizing submission of the grant application and committing the $151,405 local match. The transcript records the outcomes as unanimous passage but does not list a roll-call tally in named votes.

The meeting also noted a road-closure request from Richard Riley on the agenda and began discussion of a separate closure request (listed for Jody Barber) to close Cherry from 2nd to Walnut for an event on Saturday, March 14; the record ends before a final administrative outcome for those items was recorded.

The council closed the public hearing and proceeded to new business. The resolution and priority statement now allow the mayor's office to complete and submit the grant application; the local match is contingent on the award of the external funds.