May 8, 2023 at 12:10 p.m.
OVTC authorizes federal grant application
Funds would be used for space needs analysis, architectural and engineering work
The vote to authorize the grant application took place on April 26, after OVTC committee member Richard Logan provided an update on the April 24 meeting of the commission's building committee.
"We talked about, as a committee, how to proceed with acquiring a building," he said, adding that Steve Hirshfeld, transit planning program manager for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) attended the building committee meeting.
"We learned some things," Logan said. "We learned there is a grant that we would be eligible for ... it's a federal transit planning grant (TPG). That grant would provide money for a space needs analysis, architectural and engineering services."
He said Hirshfeld indicated there was a "one hundred point zero" chance the commission would be awarded the grant.
"What it came down to was a recommendation for this commission to apply for the grant," Logan said.
Also needed is committee approval from the Oneida and Vilas county aging and disability resource centers as the 20 percent match needed would come from them.
Regarding a timeline for the grant, Logan said Hirshfeld indicated things would proceed fairly quickly as it's what's referred to as a "rolling grant" and the commission could be notified as soon as June, which is when the application is due.
"They (the DOT) will look at it and they will basically give us a thumbs up, 'You're good to go,'" Logan said. "At that point, we can proceed with our part but the actual approval may take a bit longer but they can basically tell us early on. They have a grant specialist there at the DOT."
Commission chairman Marv Anderson asked if there would be a need as part of the grant application process for the commission to have a building or "piece of property to buy before these services would be engaged?"
"The reason I would say no is because the space needs analysis is gonna tell you, or is gonna tell us, what is needed," Logan responded. "This is going to determine ... the building itself can include the surrounding area."
Also anticipated in the space needs analysis portion is precisely what the OVTC may need in towns it serves, such as Minocqua and the cities of Eagle River and Rhinelander.
In his opinion, Logan said, the space needs analysis "is the very first step."
"It sounds like we have everything to gain and nothing to lose by applying for it," Anderson said, before calling for a vote.
There was a consensus from the commission members to move forward after Anderson asked each person for their thoughts on whether to pursue the grant application.
"It always behooves us to chase whatever federal dollars we have the potential to chase," commission member Tony Rios said. "If additional grants and all that are gonna help us meet our goal, than I'm pretty much all for it."
After some additional discussion, a dollar amount for the grant application of $200,000 was decided on.
"After a long time discussion about 'Can we or can't we,' this may be the icebreaker for us to enable us to do things that make sense," Anderson said following the unanimous vote.
Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].
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