New Safe Route to School Grant rules could effect Glenwood City’s plans

The City Council learned that it is going be a lot harder for them to accept a grant from the Safe Route to School Grant Program.

The city has for some time been looking at applying for a grant that would allow the city to construct a sidewalk and improvements along Misty Court and Highway 170 to allow a safer travel for students walking to the local school.

 Patrick Beilfuss of Cedar Corporation was at the November 11 City Council meeting to explain the new regulations regarding the program. “It is not great news at this time.” The program, “which started in 2007, had grants that would cover one hundred percent of the cost of the project with a minimum project cost of $25,000 and a maximum of $250,000,” Beilfuss told the council.

Now the Minimum grant project for infrastructure is $300,000 with the city coming up with at least 20 percent of the cost. Beilfuss noted to the council that the city’s share of a project like that would require the city to come up with at least $60,000 and  “it could be more,” he stated. “This has taken a lot of small cities out of the picture,” Beilfuss told the council. Councilperson Nancy Hover noted, “This puts a knick in our sidewalk project.”

In other action, Hover gave the council the monthly Library report noting that the new chairs and tables have arrived and are being used. The report noted that the final Tech Time class will be from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. this Thursday, November 21st. And, the library’s annual Open House is set for December 7th and indicated that the Library needs volunteers to assist with the children’s craft tables. Call the library to volunteer at 715-265-7443.