By Shaun Szkolnik, for the Tribune
ARGO — The Argo City Council listened to a presentation from John Smith, of an engineering firm in Trussville named CCI, regarding a new grant that may be available to the City of Argo.
Smith told the council that the state is providing a total of $30 million a year, that will be administered through the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) for the benefit of local road projects in the state of Alabama.
Smith said that no matching of funds is required, by municipalities, to apply from the grant however many cities will be competing for the funds and those willing to offer a match could be more likely to be awarded one of the grants.
The main project that Smith outlined, that could benefit from the grant, was an improvement and possible expansion of the ramp off I-59 as it turns onto Argo Parkway.
An estimation of the project puts the cost at around $623,000. The recommended 15 percent match would require the city of Argo to put up around $74,000.
Mayor Betty Bradley asked Smith how much it would cost for CCI to prepare and submit an application to be considered for the grant.
“The initial repackage … getting your application in is a $4000 fee,” said Smith. “To basically submit everything that is required on the ALDOT application … there are about fifteen things we’ve got to pull together and put in an application, to the DOT, on your behalf to acquire this funding.”
The council voted to provide CCI with the $4000 fee to create the application.
The council also approved $6,590 to be used to outfit a new truck that had been acquired by the Argo Police Department. The vehicle will be able so serve a dual purpose for law enforcement as well as Animal Control.
In other news, Mayor Bradley addressed the council. Bradley reminded the council that there would be a budget work session on Tuesday, Aug. 13 starting at 6 p.m. She also reminded the council that city hall is going to be closed on Labor Day.
The council will meet again on Monday, Aug. 26, 2019.