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St. Clair County staff to help Coosa Valley pursue $1 million EPA award; commissioners to approve grant administrator
Summary
County staff told commissioners Coosa Valley must complete an EPA application for a roughly $1,000,000 award and asked the commission to help pay for grant administration; staff said it will seek quotes for a grant administrator and return with cost estimates.
St. Clair County staff told commissioners that Coosa Valley has been contacted to complete a grant application for an approximately $1,000,000 award routed through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and that the regional partner needs administrative help to finish the application and manage the award.
A county grants staff member said federal funds generally require procurement of professional services and urged the commission to authorize soliciting rate sheets from at least three grant administrators so the county can hire proper contract administration and avoid audit findings. The staff member said, "I would imagine it would be between 5 and $7,000," for administration fees but added they would provide a firm quote at the next meeting.
The staff presentation also covered a related request that the county help Coosa Valley with administrative portions of the award and noted Byron Woods had reviewed preliminary materials and indicated the work sits outside the county’s usual ADEM grant procedures. Commissioners asked staff to obtain written quotes and bring the request back for formal action.
The grants update included two related items: participation in Smart Growth America’s Complete Streets Leadership Academy and an available $15,000 award that partner cities declined to use. The staff member said the county could accept the extra $15,000 and possibly apply it toward a $26,000 local match for a Safe Streets for All demonstration activity. "That is a really big deal," the staff member added about the $1,000,000 award.
The commission did not finalize a spending decision during the meeting; staff was directed to return with procurement steps, contract terms and exact fee quotes before any county funds are committed.
