White Bluff officials hope changes to application will improve chance for grant

White Bluff officials are hoping to learn from their recent rejection for a sewer system improvement grant to increase the town’s chance of getting another grant next year. Projects Coordinator Jeff Martin told the town council Tuesday night that he met last month with a Community Development Block Grant representative to determine why the town’s application for a $500,000 grant to continue addressing its infiltration and inflow problems was turned down. He said state officials score grant applications for work on treatment facilities as a higher priority than projects involving collection lines. He said applications not asking for the maximum half a million also tend to score higher. So Martin said White Bluff will be shifting its next grant application to concentrate on upgrades to the Taylor Town Road pumping station that feeds the town’s treatment facility. He said the amount of the grant application will be reduced from $500,000 to $250,000-$300,000. Mayor Linda Hayes said as part of the application process, the town will again have to conduct income surveys that will include random calls and possibly door-to-door visits utilizing the volunteer fire department. She assured residents that the information sought is protected and not used for any purpose other than the grant application. The town must file the new application by a February deadline.