FEMA grants available for city repairs

There are grants from FEMA that are available if a city meets the right criteria.

This is one of the things the Carrington City Council learned at their meeting last week.

During the meeting held on Monday, November 14, Daniel Schwartz of Nexus attended the meeting via telephone to discuss how he can help the city obtain some of these grants.

Schwartz is based out of Bismarck. His company contracts with cities to help them get grants for emergency management projects.

He updated the Foster County Hazard Mitigation Plan earlier this year and has helped Jamestown and other cities obtain grants.

Schwartz said there is a potential grant from FEMA for storm sewer and storm water system repairs. The grant is called Project Scoping and it will help pay for an engineering study with a 75/25 match, with 25 percent being paid by the city.

“Carrington is well positioned for this project,” he said.

The last engineering study on the storm system was done in 2006.

Mayor Tom Erdmann said that they first need to prioritize what they need done.

Schwartz agreed and asked the council to make a list of needed repairs.

He explained that the contract with him would give him permission to research FEMA for grants and project funding.

Schwartz said, “I don’t get paid unless your project is approved by FEMA.”

The council agreed to give the contract to the city attorney for review and meet with Schwartz at their next meeting.

In other business:

• A resolution for demolition cost share up to $10,000 was approved.

Committee Reports

FIRE:

• Carrington Fire Chief Ken Wangen reported that there were 10 calls for service since the last meeting.

He also said they had calls for one grass fire, hay bale fires and a false alarm at Cobblestone Inn & Suites.

FINANCE & LEGAL:

• Erdmann reported that they approved an update for the auditor and deputy auditor’s job description to be in line with the North Dakota Century Code.

• Erdmann also reported that the Blue Cross Blue Shield health plan will see a 7 percent increase.

CCEDC:

• The first $100,000 check for Carrington Rainbow Gardens should be received within the next couple of weeks.

• The Main Street elevator lots purchase should be closed before the end of the year.

• The board discussed rebranding with a new logo and website.

• The board approved three housing incentives as well as an incentive for a new home build.

CVB:

• Meeting minutes from October 17 stated that Birding Drives Dakota in Carrington may either move in with Jamestown Chamber and Tourism or will disband.

Library:

• The minutes from the Library Board’s meeting on October 13 stated that there is a new logo for the library.

• The library will be open until 5:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.

POLICE:

• A stolen vehicle was recovered.