Crawford County Commissioners took action on June 9 to apply for a grant through Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA). If awarded, the grant could bring the county up to $250,000, which would be used to improve hard-surface roads.

DRA is a federal-state partnership comprising of 255 counties and parishes across eight states. They require someone to be designated and given the authority to perform all duties and administration of the funds on behalf of the awardee. In this instance, authority  would be given to a county official.

A motion to designate Presiding Commissioner Steve Black as the authorized point of contact for the grant was approved with a 3-0 vote.

District 1 Associate Commissioner Mark Pfeiffer said the second motion is to provide additional funds, in the amount of $350,000, to the award. The funds will cover any additional costs from the project that the grant won’t cover. The motion was approved with a 3-0 vote.

Crawford County also needs to make an in-kind contribution, which is non-cash resources that are provided in support a project.

To make an in-kind contribution, with a fair market value of $60,000, a motion was made and approved with a 3-0 vote.

Additionally, the board voted 3-0 to allow any future presiding commissioners to hold the authority to perform all duties and during the grant’s administration.

Pfeiffer added that they have recommendation letters from a variety of entities, including outfitters, EMS, fire, law enforcement, school districts and businesses that are on the hard surface roads that are getting hard to drive on.

In other business, Treasurer Karen Sikes presented the commissioners with the sales tax report for May.

“Unfortunately, it’s down about almost eight-and-a-half percent,” Sikes said.