Price city selects block grant application project

By Sun Advocate

The public hearing in preparation to apply for 2003-2004 community development block grant funding was conducted at the Price City Council meeting Oct. 9.
The hearing was called to consider potential projects which funding may be applied under the block grant program.
The grant money must be spent on projects benefiting low and moderate income persons.
Price community director Nick Tatton suggested officials look at funding a mapping sytem to identify specific areas and assets of the city, especially areas such as utilities.
The hardware would be helpful in mapping and tracking city services.
The Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments, of which Price Municipal Corporation is a member, expects to receive $39,154 in the new program.
All eligible activities that can be accomplished under the program are identified in the CDBG application guide and interested persons can review it at any time.
City engineer Gary Sonntag read information concerning the grant which indicated that potential projects that may be eligible for funding.
The projects included the construction of public works and facilities like food banks and homeless shelters or the development of loan programs for private businesses which would hire low income persons. The program can also pay for housing rehabilitiation for low income homeowners.
Price officials approved the mapping service as the city’s project for the application.
The city has received grant money in the past for pedestrian safety sidewalk improvements, planning and design as well as Americans with Disabilities Act restroom construction.
Price has included the city’s capital investment plan as part of the regional consolidated plan.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Kourianos reported on the shade tree commission’s progress on the development of a memorial grove near Cliffview Cemetery.
On Oct. 21, veterans groups have been invited to assist in planting trees donated by Utah Power to honor military personnel who have lost their lives.
More than an acre is dedicated for the Memorial Grove.
Permission was granted to purchase two Kustom Signal Eyewitness camcorders for the city’s new police vehicles. The costs will primarily be covered by a 2002 law enforcement block grant.
Price was awarded $6,840 in local law enforcement grant revenues, with a match of $760. Each camcorder will cost $3,800 through the Utah state bid.
Severe leaking unexpectedly occurred on the boiler at the swimming pool a couple weeks ago. Several heating tubes were cracked and needed to be replaced.
R&L Boiler completed the repairs and billed the city $4,629. The council approved the payment for the repair work.
Councilman Richard Tatton reported that the sign for Heritage Park is being worked on and two new programs are being proposed for the city recreation department.
The programs include training for all-terrain vehicle usage for people 18 years or older and family based education on sexuality.
Council members Betty Wheeler and Don Reaveley attended a workshop in Richfield recently on how to make downtown come alive.
Several ideas from the conference were shared with the council, including using the historical significance of the town as a draw as well as marketing the city’s brand.
More ideas from the conference will be shared on cultivating downtown business.
In addition, the bid opening for construction of the swimming pool boiler system was conducted at last Wednesday’s council meeting.
The boiler is worn out and has been leaking severely. It has been shut down three times for repairs and without an operating boiler the pools facility will be shut down.
Two bids were received, the lowest coming in at $189,995. Anticipated costs for the repair was substancially lower, estimated at $50,000.
A committee of elected representatives and city employees was formed to discuss the budget, the anticipated costs and the bids and bring back a recommendation to the Price council.