City Could Pursue Another Block Grant

The city of Bourbon is being encouraged to apply for another community development block grant (CDBG) that would provide funds to make wastewater improvements or potentially build a new building for the police department.

Bourbon received a $500,000 grant in 2018 that eventually rebuilt Pine Street.

Kyle Lahdwehr of Bartlett & West, the engineering firm that designed the UV disinfection system at the wastewater treatment plant, told Bourbon council members Dec. 20 that they should go forth on an income survey that would the open city up to other programs as well.

Landwehr said there is a grant for community facilities, but as it stands, the city doesn’t qualify as low-to-moderate income.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Margie Brine asked how it’s determined that the city doesn’t qualify.

Landwehr told her they use United States Census data. 

“Low to moderate residents don’t fill out the survey,” said Ward 2 Alderwoman Mary Heywood, who said the city once annexed the Lakewood Mobile Home Park to show it had a sufficient number of low income residents. 

Landwehr said the city can offer residents a credit on their water bill if they fill out the survey. The city did just that in 2017 when it undertook the survey, taking $2 off.

However, Landwehr cautioned that using grant funds can raise the project costs by as much as three to four times.

“We did a maintenance garage that came back at $1.2 million,” Landwehr said, noting that it’s the cost of following guidelines.

He said a block grant for the police department might not be the best, but the city could still be in the running for wastewater improvements.

Landwehr said they have turned in documents for the city’s bond that was approved in August, which will address inflow and infiltration and headworks.

The city is having issues getting “big solids” down when there is heavy rain.

During a recent spate of rainy weather, Landwehr said there were a lot of rags and flushable wipes found in the UV basin.