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Andrews to pursue OCRA grant to build storm water infrastructure

The Andrews Town Council is interested in applying for a grant that would help fund the construction of storm water infrastructure.

The board met with Region 3A Development and Regional Planning Commission earlier Monday, Oct. 23, to discuss pursuing a grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).

Council President Bill Johnson said during the council’s regular meeting that evening that Region 3A had contacted OCRA to determine if the town would need to conduct another income survey before applying for the grant.

Johnson and his fellow council members expressed hope that the income survey the town conducted two years ago in advance of the town’s wastewater treatment plant project would be sufficient for OCRA.

In the event that OCRA requires the town to conduct a new survey, the board preemptively authorized one with a cost cap of $3,000.

Council noted that December was the deadline to apply for the grant, which it hopes will be a 90/10 match, with OCRA contributing the majority of the funding.

Council hired civil engineering firm Fleis & VandenBrink to serve as the bidding and construction administrator for its roadway improvement projects next year.

The firm, which will also prepare plans and specifications for those projects, will be paid $38,200.

The projects will cost approximately $405,000. The town will pay for the majority of that work using the Community Crossings matching grant it was awarded in September, which totals $304,125.

In other business:

• Council adopted the town’s budget for 2018. The budget totals $912,066.

• The board gave Marshal Austin Bullock permission to spend $1,149 on the purchase of a laptop for the police department’s reserve car that will enable the officer in that vehicle to write e-tickets.

• Council donated $100 to the Andrews Community Helpers. The group will prepare meals in the Andrews Municipal Building that will be distributed to people in need on Nov. 18