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Commissioner Worley - Natural Resources - To (1) Approve a Resolution Authorizing Gaston County Natural Resources to Submit an ARPA Stormwater Grant Application for the NC Division of Water Infrastructure, Stormwater Infrastructure Investments Grant Program to Construct Gaston County Schools Stormwater Control Measures Project; (2) Approve the Acceptance of the Grant Funds (Subject to Grant Award) and Authorize the Necessary FY23 Budget Ordinance Amendments (Approx. $909,198 - 100% ARPA Stormwater Grant Funds)
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STAFF CONTACT
William Wier, PE - Natural Resources Engineer - 704-922-4181
BUDGET IMPACT
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If awarded the grant an increase in federal grant revenues and expenditures of $909,198.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
If awarded amends the 2022-2023 annual budget ordinance to recognize, receive, and appropriate an increase to Natural Resources in the amount of $909,198.
BACKGROUND
The NC Division of Water Infrastructure will award approximately $82 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for stormwater projects through its competitive funding process from the newly created Local Assistance for Stormwater Infrastructure Investments (LASII) program. Funds are available for cities, counties, regional councils of government and nonprofit partners for construction and planning projects that will improve or create infrastructure for controlling stormwater quantity and quality.
The Gaston County Schools Stormwater Control Measures Project will design and construct Bioretention Cells at H. H. Beam Elementary, Lowell Elementary, McAdenville Elementary, and Page Elementary Schools. These four nature-based stormwater control measures will treat approximately 6.0 acres of impervious runoff plus an additional 4.7 acres of pervious runoff from the school properties. There are currently no stormwater control measures at these sites. The schools are all within Gaston County, one outside of city limits, two within the Town of McAdenville, and one within the City of Belmont. These bioretention cells will be designed to treat both water quality and water quantity issues that are currently occurring at these sites. Erosion at the outfalls of all four schools have been ongoing issues for years. The sediment laden runoff from three of the schools also flow to the South Fork Catawba River which is impaired due to high turbidity. Water quality and quantity will be improved at these sites by implementing nature-based stormwater control measures in the form of bioretention cells which will reduce the peak flow rates, detain the design storm, and minimize sediment transport.
Approval of this Board Action & Resolution (1) Authorizes the Application and (2) subject to grant award, approves the acceptance of the funds and authorizes the necessary budget transfers to appropriate the funds. The budget transfers will be reported to the Board of Commissioners on the County Manager’s monthly Budget Transfers Report. In the event the award amount is less than projected, and a County match is necessary, the grant award will be brought to the Board of Commissioners for acceptance and match approval.
POLICY IMPACT
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ATTACHMENTS
Resolution; Application; Maps