Commissioners approve $750,000 CDBG subrecipient agreement for Telegraph Hill sewer project

Jefferson County commissioners voted June 25 to accept a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant award for the Telegraph Hill Riper switch sewer project and to authorize the county president to sign a subrecipient agreement so the project can move to construction.

Patty Jackson of the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission told the board the agreement had been reviewed and signed by the county attorney and asked the commissioners to approve the subrecipient contract so work can advance. “It’s my understanding that the county attorney, Pat McGrath, has reviewed the subrecipient agreement … and he has signed it,” Jackson said during her update and asked the president to execute the document.

The board moved and seconded the approval after attorney review; the motion passed by voice vote. Commissioners also handled routine business at the start of the meeting, approving minutes from the June 11 meeting, accounts‑payable vouchers and the payroll docket by voice vote.

Jackson also updated the commission on related CDBG outreach: the county mailed income surveys to a random selection of households in the Rikers Ridge Water Company service area and to stakeholders for a community‑center improvement project at the Jefferson County 4‑H fairgrounds. The surveys are used to determine eligibility for CDBG funding; Jackson asked residents who receive a survey to complete it and provided the planning office contact number for questions.

Next steps for the sewer project will follow standard grant and procurement procedures; Jackson indicated that, with the signed subrecipient agreement, the project can progress toward engineering and construction scheduling.