Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Surry Select Board says it will provide 25% non-federal match if federal grant awarded for peninsula storm-evacuation project
Summary
The Select Board resolved to provide a 25% non-federal match (total $975,825) should a congressional directed spending award be made for the Newburry Neck Peninsula storm evacuation project; board members said about $300,000 is already set aside, lowering the town's likely new contribution to roughly $600,000, and they will seek financing options and an engineer estimate of dam maintenance costs.
The Town of Surry Select Board agreed May 7 to provide a 25% non-federal match if a congressional directed spending (CDS) award is made for the Newburry Neck Peninsula storm evacuation project.
Mary, chair of the Select Board, said the board submitted a CDS application after learning senators were accepting such requests and that the CDS program now requires a 25% non-federal match. The board cited a match figure of $975,825; Mary said, “it is not $975,000 the town has to come up with, it's about $600,000, because we already set aside the $300,000 for the 10% match.”
The board discussed financing strategies it would pursue if the award is made, including applications to the Maine Municipal Bond Bank, state grants and use of town capital reserves. Members also described next steps tied to the Toddy Pond dam: the town recently received delayed data from Bucksport Mill LLC that revealed about 25 previously undisclosed items; before forming any quasi-municipal entity to take ownership of the dam the board wants an engineering estimate of maintenance and operational costs, which Mary said would cost roughly $8,000–$12,000 and be split among the towns.
Select Board members said they plan to launch outreach and an education campaign if the state legislature advances related legislation and will seek town voter approval if required. The board did not record a formal roll-call vote on the match resolution in the transcript; members discussed funding sources and agreed to pursue the match if the CDS award is made.
Next steps: the town will seek an engineering estimate for dam costs, continue outreach if state action proceeds, and await the congressional review timeline for CDS awards.
