The federal government has grants available to rural communities, and Fulton wants a piece of the action.
City Council members this week approved $20,000 to help write a grant addressing Fulton's downtown Brick District. The process of writing this grant will define what the community wants for its downtown.
Some "wants" are pretty clear: better sidewalks, better parking and brighter lighting.
BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grants are distributed through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Formerly called TIGER grants, these have distributed $5.6 billion to 463 projects since 2009.
"This is a project the community would have full support of," interim Director Kyle Bruemmer said. "There are multiple things it can be used for."
He's meeting with officials from the firm Burns McDonnell to talk about details, he added. This firm is a group of companies including engineers, architects, construction professionals and more with offices in Missouri and throughout the world.
Bruemmer also said the city would work closely with merchants, the Brick District group, the Historic Preservation committee and Callaway Chamber officials.
"We met with the Brick District folks and had a good conversation," he added. "They were energized about the grant application."
It will be a positive step to create this comprehensive plan for the downtown area.
"Even if the worst thing happens and we don't get it this year, the hard work we put into it is still there," Bruemmer added. "It'll be ready for next year to go after it again, or another grant."
Every time there is a festival in the Brick District, city workers have to haul down equipment and run ropey black electrical lines for vendors to hook into.
"Wouldn't it be nice if we could just plug in and go?" Bruemmer said of an idea to create a permanent, underground electrical network instead.
Because parking is a constant issue, interested parties would take a look at other options such as angle parking compared to parallel parking. Loading and unloading is also a problem for some businesses on Court Street.
If the grant is obtained, officials would take next year to plan and get engineering plans done, and work could begin in 2020. Letters of support from community leaders also will be sought for the grant application. The council voted to give Bruemmer the go-ahead to pursue this grant.
City Council members also heard a second reading on a new 21-page environmental ordinance. The third reading and possible approval will occur during the next City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. May 22 in council chambers.
In other action Tuesday, the council approved:
- A resolution supporting a Firefighters Support Foundation Grant to buy two $2,000 rescue saws.
- A resolution authorizing a contract with Sound Mind Real Estate LLC of Kansas City for $13,420 (the lowest bid) to provide a HVAC (heating and air conditioning) system at the Scout Cabin at Veterans Park.
- A resolution authorizing Mayor LeRoy Benton to sign documents to apply for the 2018 AARP Community Challenge Grant. This grant would provide three ADA-compliant, floating fishing docks at three city lakes (Veterans Park, Truman Lake and Morningside Lake). Current concrete docks at Veterans Park and Truman Lake are slipping downhill into the water. No dock exists at Morningside Lake.
- A motion to remove a dilapidated city warehouse on Westminster Avenue while leaving intact a concrete pad underneath.
- A motion to approve the purchase of a portable radar speed sign which could slow traffic in areas including Wood Street. The $5,000 cost will come out of City Council's contingency fund.
- A motion to purchase a new chassis for a solid waste truck.
Council member Jeffrey Stone suggested getting bathrooms at the Fulton Dog Park and cleaning up weeds at the volleyball court at Veterans Park. Councilman Richard Vaughn asked when work would begin on Business 54, scheduled this year for the full length through Fulton. Much of that project will be performed by state Department of Transportation contractors. Bids for that project are due May 18, and work is supposed to be completed by year's end.