Saline County commissioners this morning approved the county accepting a $132,000 Community Development Block Grant to be used for grants or loans for for-profit businesses.
Late last month, the county received notice that it had been selected to receive money during the second funding cycle. The county had applied for the funds in May, but they were not awarded during the first funding cycle, according to information from Saline County. The North Central Regional Planning Commission will serve as the grant administrator. The organization's fee -- $12,000 -- will be paid with the grant some of funds received, the county noted.
Additionally, commissioners heard from Tim Hamilton, planning and zoning administrator, who provided an update on activities that have taken place from Jan. 1 through July 31, 2020. A total of 35 building permits have been issued which is an increase of 13 from this same time in 2019.
Revenue is also up by a little over $15,000 from last year, with a total so far of $57,623.50. Revenues are from building permit fees as well as fees for septic and well permits and other environmental services, according to information from the county.
Commissioners also heard from Justin Mader, county engineer, who provided each of them with a binder filled with information on the Special Road Construction Fund, road classifications, and several maps that outline the county road management program in Saline County. Commissioners will meet with the road and bridge and engineering departments in a special study session on Aug. 18 so they can discuss in more detail the gravel road upgrade program and the future of Saline County’s road upgrades, the county information noted.
On April 7, commissioners voted to place a question on the November ballot asking for voters to approve a half-cent sales tax for the construction of a jail and issue bonds. Today, they heard from David Arteberry with Stifel, Nicolas and Company, the county’s financial advisor for this project. Arteberry provided the commission with what a bond payment would look like as well as anticipated sales tax revenues. He explained that they took a very conservative approach to projecting these numbers. Through their conservative projections, the jail project with the price tag of $89,655,000 could be paid off in 18 years and the sales tax could end. Commissioners will take action in two weeks -- Aug. 18 -- in considering the adoption of the language that will go on the November ballot. Information about the jail project can be found at https://www.saline.org/Jail-Project-2020.
During his weekly update, Phillip Smith-Hanes, county administrator, told commissioners about the Coronavirus Funding Advisory Committee’s meeting on Monday. Applications for direct aid were accepted until 5 p.m. on July 31. A total of 106 applications were received with requests that totaled just a little over $16.6 million. The county has $11,026,434 that can be distributed to local governments, schools, organizations, and businesses. The committee began reviewing the applications and will continue its review this week in order to bring a recommendation to the commissioners on Aug. 11 for their approval to submit a plan to the State of Kansas.
All information about the Coronavirus Relief Fund can be found here: https://www.saline.org/Coronavirus/CRF-Funding.
Commission Chair Robert Vidricksen provided a reminder that the public hearing for the 2021 budget for the county, the Kipp sewer, and rural fire districts 1-7 is scheduled for Aug. 11.