BERLIN — Though a previous application failed last year, the town of Berlin is confident there is a good chance to secure $800,000 in state funding through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for three different stormwater projects.
The reason for that confidence is the town’s dedicated stormwater utility, which has grown to the point where the Mayor and Council hope to use it to leverage major grant funding.
The CDBG would cover nearly half of the total cost of the Hudson Branch Stormwater Project’s $1,734,048 price tag with $874,048 to come from other state and federal grants and $60,000 from the town. The CDBG would have been a boon to have last year but the town’s application failed, possibly because Berlin didn’t have enough leverage. But things could be different this year, according to councilmember Lisa Hall.
“That’s part of the reason why we got the stormwater utility started. Part of the reason that we weren’t approved last year was because we didn’t have a funding source in place,” she said. “And talking to other staff members it really looks like we’re going to get approved for these grants in the next fiscal year.”
If successful, the $800,000 CDBG would be channeled into stormwater improvements along Hudson Branch. All of it would be allocated for construction on projects meant to reduce flooding and runoff with $385,600 set for Flower Street construction, $40,452 for William Street construction and $373,948 for Graham Avenue and Grice and Nelson streets construction. Construction will include things like larger culverts, bank stabilization and natural attenuating scour pools.
There has been some heartburn amongst a few residents over the order of the project list but the town was quick to defend their priorities. Mary Bohlen, deputy town administrator, explained that Hudson Branch improvements were scheduled the way they were out of necessity. Things have to go step-by-step and it wouldn’t make sense to jump around, she said.
“Some of the other work has to be in place. It has to have a logical flow,” said Bohlen. “You can’t necessarily do infrastructure work in one area if you haven’t accomplished it elsewhere.”
Councilman Troy Purnell echoed Bohlen, adding that the town really has to start in one spot and move up.
The town doesn’t expect to learn if the CDBG has been awarded until next fall but plans on steady progress with stormwater projects into the near future. While not everyone will be happy with the town’s pace or priorities, Mayor Gee Williams said this week that he’s at least glad to see what he believes is a clear intent to solve the town’s flooding issues. For too long, the topic was a taboo “third-rail,” that everyone wanted to ignore, said Williams.