City of Beatrice plans to seek public works grant, for street work

BEATRICE – The City of Beatrice plans to apply for a public works grant, thanks to a federal guideline update that would qualify the city for receiving such a grant.

"HUD just updated their low and moderate income calculations and the City of Beatrice is now at 51.4-percent of our city's population is at low and moderate income, according to HUD. That then qualifies you for one of the national objectives required for a public works grant."

The last time a public works grant was used by the city, the funding helped pave North 2nd Street between Ella and Grant. City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer says the city will request a total of $480,000 in grant funds….of which all but about $45,000 would be used for street projects in the community.
"We have a number of mill and overlay projects in our community that we have budgeted in F-Y 25 and F-Y 26 that we're applying for, here."

Among the streets where work is planned….

Grant Street, from 14th to 16th
Paddock Street, from Sumner to Wiebe
Scott Street, between 5th and 6th
Marlborough Avenue, from 3rd to 5th
10th Street, from Court to Holbrook

The City would be required to provide a matching amount of funds from street projects that are on the schedule. Officials are working through the Southeast Nebraska Development District on the grant application.

"We did initially throw out about six different projects to SENDD, looking to see what would kind of meet the requirements that the state is looking for. The mill and overlay project was the one they thought had the best chance of being funded. One of the things required is that it had to be residential, in character."

The projects have been included in the budget…but if the grant were received…they would be at half the cost.  The Beatrice City Council conducted a public hearing Monday night, on a proposal to apply for the grant.