The Goodrich City Council discussed grants, banks and Easter in their regular meeting for March Thursday at the community center on Loop 393.
Goodrich will submit two project surveys for citywide sewer improvements through the General Land Office’s Community Development Block Grant Program.
“We can go out for a grant and it can be funded as soon as the middle of next year,” Goodrich Mayor Kelly Nelson said, explaining the grant to the council. “This grant is $5 million. Our match would be $250,000. What can we use this for? We can use this for the sewer ponds.”
The city is likely looking at a price tag of a few million dollars for a complete repair of the wastewater ponds that, without a grant, could take an extended time to repay. The block grant must be sewer-related, meaning that in addition to the ponds, new lines could also be funded.
“We’re good for a little while on the ponds, but we don’t want to play around,” Nelson said. “If this is out there to get, we want to get it, because in the long run, we would only have to pay $250,000.”
Council approved pursuing the CDBG grant.
The decision was also made to remain with PNC as its depository bank, with no other banks bidding.
Council again tabled an item that would possibly increase water and sewer rates in the city. Mayor Pro-tem Bobby Wright disagreed with the decision to delay the item once more, but Nelson wanted the opportunity to speak with utilities maintenance for further information.
The annual Easter egg hunt has been scheduled for Saturday, March 28 at 4 p.m. A budget of $500 was set for the event.
