City, county to team for pool grant funding
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
The City of Mount Ayr presented their plan to fund a new aquatic center, to be located in Judge Lewis Park in Mount Ayr during the County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday, October 23.
City administrator Brent Wise shared that he is working with Jeremy Rounds from SICOG to apply for a Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant that could provide $250,000 towards the new pool project.
However, one of the stipulations of the grant is that the county and the city must both support the project financially. “If the county and the city didn’t go together for the grant, then we would not be able to apply for CAT funds,” explained city administrator Wise.
The only concern coming from the county supervisors was that they were not the only entity contributing to funding. Steve Knapp questioned, “Are we the only one putting money towards the grant?”
Significant money has already been raised, as over 70% of the project funds have been raised. Secured funds include roughly $1.5 -$2 million from a City bond, and additional donations from private donors and other public entities:
- Larry and Rita Hunter have pledged $300 K
- An anonymous donor has pledged $100 K plus and additional $50 K per year for the first few years to help cover operational expenses
- Two local contractors are each contributing $100 K of in-kind donations in the form of project work expenses
- Plus a good amount of folks have pledged or showed financial support
City administrator Wise expressed he would like to work together with the county.
“I’m passionate about working together through a city/county partnership,” Wise stated. “The pool is moving forward, and the geo-technical and topographical surveys have already been completed.”
Supervisor Knapp made the motion to approve the resolution as presented. “I don’t want to hold up progress,” Knapp stated. Supervisor Randy Taylor seconded the motion. “It needs to happen,” stated Taylor.
“I think it’s a great project,” stated supervisor Colby Holmes. The Ringgold County Board of Supervisors approved $25,000 in ARPA funding, should the CAT grant be received, as the Aquatic Center Project serves all of Ringgold County and is supported by residents throughout the county.
The City of Mount Ayr will document progress of the project to full funding from other sources and present annual invoices for the agreed upon funds as the project and grant funding progresses.
