Council approves application to seek $523,000 match for Sterling Mormon House rehab grant

The Cheney City Council voted to approve a resolution authorizing staff to apply for a Washington State Historical Society Heritage Capital Projects grant to rehabilitate the Sterling Mormon House.

City staff told the council the grant would require a total cash match of about $523,000, with roughly $376,000 expected as direct cash and $147,000 available as in‑kind match (labor, materials and other noncash contributions). "The grant has a total cash match of $523,000," the presenter (Mister Meeks) said, and he described the revised plan to pursue external fundraising first and use city refund (REIT) funds only as a last resort.

Councilors pressed staff for timing and program details. The presenter said the application deadline was Friday, June 5, and that award notifications likely arrive in late September; contracting would begin in the summer of 2027 if the city were awarded funds. "If we get awarded the grant, we can circle back and hash out all those details of our funding sources," the presenter said.

Opponents of the measure raised concerns about insufficient vetting. Council member Bartels questioned whether the grant application, grant assurances and a financial impact statement had been reviewed: "We haven't seen the grant application... we don't know what the grant assurances are," he said. The presiding officer acknowledged he had not reviewed the grant assurances but stated he would vote to proceed with the application.

After debate, the council voted to approve submitting the grant application. The meeting adjourned at 1:52 p.m.; staff were instructed to return with further detail and protections before any city funds would be committed.