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Hertford council authorizes debt to pursue EDA grant for new substation; vote 4–1
Summary
The Town of Hertford voted 4–1 to authorize issuing debt to fund the town's portion of a new electrical substation at Marina Industrial Park and to pursue an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant; Mayor Ashley Hodges opposed the move. Council also adopted an EDA-required procurement policy to support the application.
The Town of Hertford council voted 4–1 on May 26 to authorize issuing debt to finance the town's portion of a proposed substation at Marina Industrial Park and to proceed with pursuing an Economic Development Administration grant to help pay construction costs.
Rick Vander Maas of Electricities told the council the town 'is in an acceptable cash position to issue debt for growth' and that 'the new revenue received from new customers would pay that debt service,' remarks the council cited as supporting the financing decision. Town Manager Doris Walton said the EDA grant opportunity surfaced recently and stressed the need to move quickly to secure it; she also said local officials (identified in the record as LGC) had urged the town to issue debt to lock in the grant.
The motion to authorize debt issuance was moved by Councilwoman Sara Winslow and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Connie Brothers. The measure passed with Winslow, Brothers, Councilmen Keith Rouse and Evan Copeland voting yes and Mayor Ashley Hodges voting no.
Council also adopted a Procurement and Change Order Policy containing specific EDA-required language. Manager Walton said the policy is a required part of the EDA application; Mayor Pro Tem Brothers moved for adoption and Councilman Rouse seconded. The adoption passed unanimously.
Why it matters: Council members said a second point of delivery at the industrial park would allow the town to serve additional industrial customers and give flexibility for future growth, with new-customer rates designed to cover debt service. Council discussion touched on timing and grant conditions; Mayor Hodges was the lone dissenter, expressing reservations that were recorded but not expanded into a formal amendment or alternative motion.
What happens next: With the authorization and the adopted procurement policy, town staff will proceed with application steps to secure the EDA grant and prepare legal/financial documents to issue debt if the grant is awarded. No additional formal vote on the debt issuance was recorded at this meeting.
Attribution: Statements in this article are drawn from council discussion and presentations at the May 26 meeting, including remarks by Rick Vander Maas (Electricities) and Town Manager Doris Walton.
