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Grundy County committee forwards MOU with Triple R Grundy to finance for federal port grant
Summary
The Tax & Technology committees voted to forward a memorandum of understanding with Triple R Grundy to the finance committee so the county can serve as a pass-through applicant for a federal Port Infrastructure Development Grant to fund an additional barge slip; presenters said the grant would not cost the county.
The Grundy County Tax and Technology committees voted to forward a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Triple R Grundy to the county finance committee, allowing county staff to participate as a pass-through entity in pursuit of a federal Port Infrastructure Development Grant.
Mr. Phillips, representing Triple R Grundy, told the committees the company operates a 265-acre terminal on the Illinois River near the CN railroad crossing and is seeking grant funding for a second barge slip on the west end of the property. "We are going for a port infrastructure development grant from the federal government," he said, adding that the proposed new slip would be about "80 foot by 400 foot" and that the terminal handled large volumes of agricultural bulk goods.
Why it matters: county officials said the MOU would allow the county to be the formal applicant for a federal grant that Triple R Grundy cannot apply for on its own in its current form. Committee members pressed presenters about fiscal impacts and oversight; Mr. Phillips said the agreement is structured so "there is no" cost to Grundy County and that the company would manage engineering and grant administration.
Details from the presentation: Mr. Phillips said the site formerly housed LyondellBasell, includes an existing east-side barge slip, and handled "550,000 tons" of fertilizer in the previous year for local distribution. He described the countys role in the MOU as largely administrative: the company and its agents would perform engineering and administer the grant, with county review by staff (Alec had reviewed the draft) before finance and full county board consideration. County staff confirmed the MOU will next go to the finance committee and then the county board for final action.
Committee action and next steps: the chair asked for a motion to send the MOU to finance; members voted by voice and the motion passed. The committees did not vote on awarding funds or committing county dollars at this meeting; Mr. Phillips and county staff said the grant and related construction would be paid through the grant and the developers arrangements. The MOU and related materials will be presented to the finance committee and then the county board on their upcoming agendas.
