Waxman gives county update on grant projects
"We already know there may be a couple of projects we'll have to cancel." - Willie Stark
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

County grant-writer David Waxman appeared before Jasper County Commissioners Court July 9 to review the status of several grants and proposed improvement projects.

Buna Water District

The South Jasper Water District in Buna may be eligible for a grant program to expand service.

ORCA (Office of Rural Community Affairs) has scheduled a meeting open to the public at the Buna Sub-courthouse Thursday, July 26, at 6 p.m.

County Judge Mark Allen says it could mean a $350,000 grant that will require "an in-kind match involving the water district, county crews and inmate labor, along with a certain level of labor commitment from volunteers interested in this project."

The ORCA grant would come under STEP (Small Towns Environment Program), something the county has successfully utilized twice before, according to Waxman.

STEP's purpose is to solve water problems with a self-help approach that requires local participation. It allows counties to provide "sweat equity" that saves an average of 53 percent of total project costs, according to ORCA.

Waxman said the project would benefit 84 people, 36 homes, along CR 721. "The difficulty is that folks are so strung out. We need 26,000 linear feet of line. This is the type of project that lends itself to volunteer support," Waxman said.

The meeting between ORCA representatives, Jasper elected officials and the public is to test the level of interest and commitment of the community. If the support is there, the county will be asked to take action and apply for the grant, according to Waxman.

USDA and NRCS

Terry McFall of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Waxman reviewed for the court grants and funding from the Natural Resources Conservation District (NRCS).

Waxman explained that the NRCS grant was recently increased to $1.8 million, but at a 75/25 match that would require a $450,000 from Jasper County.

"Understand there are three pots of money," Waxman told the court.

There's a $350,000 grant from ORCA for damage from the October 2006 floods, and a remainder of disaster funding from Hurricane Rita that could be reallocated as a match.

There are various restriction on how funds are to be used. It will primarily be for debris removal and headwall construction, according to Waxman.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Willir Stark said, "We already know there may be a couple of projects we'll have to cancel."

Allen asked, "If we have funds left over, we can utilize them later?" to which Waxman replied, "Yes."

Waxman said the next project will be to discuss two major drainage projects and bridges with engineers. He explained that the reason the county is seeking grants for these type of projects rather than road work is that they are top ranked projects by the state, and the county will be competing in the grant process with cities like Beaumont and Port Arthur to get funds to relieve flooding.