Blytheville, Manila, Leachville - County continues to award grants

By Marcus McClain

NEA Town Courier

Mississippi County officials continued to announce recipients of the Infrastructure Grant Program over the past week. The cities of Manila, Leachville and Blytheville were the latest awarded in a stream of funding made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The city of Leachville was awarded a $200,000 county infrastructure grant on Thursday, addressing the city needs in land acquisitions and wastewater expansion. Pictured (left to right) are: Tom Henry, Michael White, Leachville mayor Rodney Robertson, Tobye McClanahan and Molly Jackson.

Manila was presented $158,750 for their fire department expansion project on Wednesday. Through the project, the city will be able to house one ladder truck, one tanker truck and one rescue with a spare pumper truck. They are currently housed in areas that the department is needs for training according to mayor Tracey Reinhart. He also added that the department also serves the community of Milligan Ridge.

“I am very proud to be a part of Mississippi County. I am proud that the county helps its individual cities. For example, Manila is growing so fast and that is expensive. It is great that the county recognizes that we can use the help. We will put it to good use. We really appreciate it,” Reinhart said. “Also the Manila Volunteer Fire Department is one of the very best in the state, not only training wise, but also in how well they take care of their equipment. I really appreciate this grant.”

Reinhart added that this grant will assist in housing future equipment as well as while the city continues to grow. He noted that several residential developments are currently under construction within the city.

On Thursday morning, the city of Leachville was presented with the maximum amount per grant at $200,000. Funds will be used to acquire approximately 31 acres of land both east and north of the city. Mayor Rodney Robertson noted that the land could be utilized to expand the city’s wastewater plant and could be used as a source of revenue until plans are finalized.

The land is currently used for agricultural purposes. Robertson noted his gratification in being able to make the purchase now with prices expected to rise in the future.

The city of Blytheville received the latest grant on Friday morning in the amount of $200,000. City officials noted in the grant application that many of the city’s sewer and distribution lines are over 100 years old.

In their continued effort to combat the issue, these grant funds will focus on the needs of North Byrum Road. The city has estimated that over 5,000 residences are affected by this network vein and are at risk of losing service if repairs are not complete as soon as possible. A total of 425 ft of 30-inch SDR 25/26 pipe, will be replaced through this project, bedded with at least 6 inches of gravel. Additionally, one manhole will be replaced at the Bryum Road lift station as well.

“On behalf of the city administration and the citizens of Blytheville, we are grateful for the county’s investment in our infrastructure,” mayor Melisa Logan said. “This grant award puts us one step closer to addressing the critical infrastructure of this great city.”

To this point, $800,000 of the $2 million accoladed for the infrastructure grant program for the program has been awarded. A total of eight cities/towns submitted applications with the county and its consultant company, iParametrics.

The county was originally awarded $7.8 million in ARP funds in 2021. In their committee meeting on June 2, chair Molly Jackson noted that once the total amount of infrastructure grants are awarded, $2.3 million will remain unappropriated. However, $1.5 million of those funds have been committed to the Osceola courthouse.

The full amount of ARP funds must be appropriated by the end of next year and spent by the end of 2026, otherwise they must be returned to the federal government.

“Over the next few months we need to be thinking of what we’re going to do, because we’d hate to wait until the ‘24 budget cycle to try committing the rest of it,” Jackson said. “It would be nice to find additional ways to help the county increase the population and make people want to move here.”

Relating this to the infrastructure grant program, Jackson stated, “This was one of the reasons we pointed out to review all awarded grants in June of next year, To make sure they are still going to be able to finish their process.”

Judge Nelson then added, “I don’t think any of those are going to be a problem. And they were all excellent plans to further the growth of the county.”

“The last thing I want to do is give money back to the government,” Jackson laughed.

The committee also discussed additional uses for the ARP funds., such as the county health unit renovations. Originally, $1.2 million was appropriated for the project with renovations beginning in Osceola. However, Jackson stated more will be required to complete the plan.

“We are going to have to replace more of the sheetrock down there than we originally thought. That’s going to add an additional cost to the building. The amount in Osceola for the additional work is going to be about $85,000,” Jackson said. To avoid having to return to committee if similar issues arise elsewhere, Jackson recommended that $200,000 be added to the project following finance committee approval.