County Council approves requests to apply for grants

The Marshall County Council handed several requests to apply for grant funds during their meeting last Monday.

County EMA Director Jack Garner was approved to apply for a $10,000 BRIC Grant by the Council.  The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program aims to categorically shift the federal focus away from reactive disaster spending. 

Garner said the grant requires a 25% local match for a project that will put a flood gauge in the Deep Ditch which is the creek that runs below State Road 10 just east of Argos that happens to flood quite a bit on the county roads and up onto State Road 10. 

Garner said the gauge will provide hourly updates that will allow the county to be proactive in flooding situations.

Sandy Dunfee, Administrator of the County Health Department told council members the county was awarded a 5-year Emergency Preparedness Grant, and she would like to complete the renewal for this year’s grant.  The $25,000 grant funds will be used to pay half the salary for the Preparedness and Environmentalist salary.   

Council members unanimously approved the Health Department’s request to apply for the grant.

Marshall County Sheriff Matt Hassel was also approved to apply for the DNR Lake Enforcement Grant.  He told council members he was applying for $20,000 with the funds to assist with officers patrolling Lake Maxinkuckee.  He commented that county officers are paid time and a half while patrolling the lake.  He also said DNR grant funds and funding from the Lake Maxinkuckee Association pay all costs for the summer patrolling.