Saline County supports broadband, housing rehabilitation projects with federal aid
This winter, Saline County residents have been able to apply for a housing weatherization program that aims to help reduce overall costs of utility payments in the colder months of the year. The program was partly funded through American Rescue Plan Act monies, and a recent allocation could help the organization continue to help families after the initial allocation is expended.
A partnership between Saline County and the Community Housing Development Organization of Central Kansas (CHDO) to provide rehabilitation and weatherization to area homes was envisioned to be a two-part project. In addition to $500,000 already approved for home rehabilitation under the ARPA framework, another $95,000 that has been held within the "Poverty Reduction" ARPA category has been intended for capacity building for the CHDO.
This week, the county approved an addendum that provides support to the CHDO to purchase equipment and support general overhead expenses for existing projects as the organization explores other funding options.
County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said the additional funding will allow the CHDO to continue to provide services to the community after the $500,000 allocation is fully expended, which is in line with the emphasis on sustainable solutions in ARPA.
"That's what we've contracted with (CHDO) for, is to help people stay in their homes by improving energy efficiency and doing some rehab work," Smith-Hanes said. "This particular request today would augment that by allowing them to purchase a truck, an insulation blower, and some overhead expenses for the organization."
More:A look at how American Rescue Plan Act monies have addressed needs in Saline County
County creates new plan for broadband infrastructure funds allocated through ARPA
Beyond a grant match program for 2-3 interested developers, the county had struggled for a while on what to do with ARPA funds allocated toward addressing local broadband needs.
This week, the county took a step by approving a new plan to use the $400,000 it allocated toward broadband needs.
The county widened the project scope from just supporting grant match by internet providers to include potential grants to partners such as the Salina Public Library or Senior Center to provide education on internet usage. The widened scope also provides for an official study of broadband needs that can be used to target future grant opportunities.
2023 Road Improvement Projects
Saline County awarded bids for the 2023 Road Improvement Projects this week, which included the last two locations on its Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Section 428 project list.
FEMA-Section 428 projects are those in which FEMA provides 75% reimbursement of the total project cost and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management 10% reimbursement of the project cost.
The bid awarded Tuesday is for two road improvements at:
Gypsum Valley Road from the city of Gypsum flood control dike, then north 2,054 feet.
Kingman Road from the City of Gypsum flood control dike, then north/east to the bridge over Gypsum Creek.
Both locations experience significant damage associated with flood waters.
The scope of these road improvements includes regrading the existing roads and ditches to a specific elevation, adding base rock, and then placing asphalt surfacing on top of the rock. Once this work is complete, said County Engineer Justin Mader, the contractor will install channel liner on the western downstream ditch slope in order to protect the integrity of the asphalt pavement.
"It's been a long process, the application was started in 2019 after all the flooding we had in there," Mader said. "And we were just approved earlier this year, so it's been a long, long, long process."
The sole bid submitted by Malm Construction Co. was for both locations and totaled $516,524.06. Funds for the two road projects will be taken from the county's 124 Account – Special Road Construction (1-mil). The account had an unencumbered balance of $1,658,185.89 at the time of the commissioner's approval of the bid.
"To find a permanent solution down there, I think, is money well spent, especially with FEMA stepping up and helping," Commissioner Jim Weese said.
Kendrick Calfee has been a reporter with the Salina Journal since 2022, primarily covering county government and education. You can reach him at kcalfee@gannett.com or on Twitter @calfee_kc.
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Saline County allocates federal aid for broadband, housing initiatives
