Dakota County CDBG Committee Gives Boost to Mendota Paving Project

Editor's Note: Dakota County Commissioner Tom Egan represents Mendota Heights, Lilydale, Mendota and a portion of Eagan. He was elected to office in 2004 and is now serving his second four-year term. Egan will write regularly to Patch readers about county government. In this report, Egan follows up on a news story that Mendota Heights Patch has been following at the city level, namely, with over $30,000 in federal grant dollars available to them. They have now been given a nod to receive an additional $20,000, which could put a major public improvement project in motion.

The city of Mendota recently submitted an application to the Community Development Block Grant program  for $20,000 to pave D Street, or High Horseshoe. Empire Township also submitted two applications as did the City of Randolph. The CDBG Committee met Feb. 15 to consider the applications. Certain criteria were considered, i.e., does the community meet the low or moderate-income status; will the community provide matching funds; will the project be completed swiftly; and is this considered a high priority project. At least fifty percent of the $49,000 available for grants must be spent on township activities.

The committee, established in January, reviews annual CDBG applications from Dakota County's small cities and townships. Since I represent Mendota and Lilydale in the Third District, I joined Second District Commissioner Kathleen Gaylord (who represents Sunfish Lake) and First District Commissioner Joe Harris (who represents all other small cities and townships) on this committee. Also appointed to serve were the chair of the Dakota County planning commission and president of the Dakota County Township Association.

After review, the CDBG Committee voted to recommend to the Dakota County Board that the Mendota D Street application for $20,000 be given highest priority. This recommendation will be made to the county board.

Several other issues must be considered.  While Mendota has estimated the paving cost of D Street at $20,000, county transportation staff have estimated the cost at closer to $37,500.  Also, this money will be coming from the federal government and is subject to a continuing resolution which carries only through March 3, 2011. However, if all goes well, the money should be available by July 1 if there are no adjustments made to the amount Dakota County receives.  

Finally, while the Mendota City Council has previously considered park improvements and had certain money available for that purpose, they may have to make a choice to proceed with that or paving of D Street.