WCRF says no to Washington school district requests for loan leverage grant

By Mary Zielinski
Asked to provide a 10 percent local match for the Washington School District to leverage a possible $2 million in Department of Education energy efficiency program loans, the Washington County Riverboat Foundation (WCRF) declined the request by a 9-4 vote.
The request for a mid-term WCRF grant, was discussed at the WCRF’s August 18 meeting. The district sought $100,000 match each for a possible two $1 million loans to pay for installing geothermal systems at its two elementary schools. Deadlines for the loan applications came before the regular WCRF grant application and awards cycle.
Board member Ed Raber outlined what the funds would be for, stressing that the grant would be conditional on the district receiving the DE funds and that the district probably will not apply for any further WCRF funds for some time.
He noted that the board has previously given mid-term grants including to the Washington Chamber of Commerce after its office was destroyed by fire. There also was an $85,000 allocation to leverage $1.5 million in federal funds to aid with multi-county economic development.
However, Chairman Tim Putney noted, “We also turned down requests,” adding that he had investigated the loan issue, finding that no district has received more than one $1 million loan at any one time.
Board member Michel Blum said giving the funds could “open a can of worms.” As for the emergency nature, she said Crawfordsville (where she is a council member) needs $90,000 for a water system, asking if they could apply.
Board member Patricia Koller indicated yes, that by doing the earlier other mid-term grants, a precedent was set “for anybody at anytime.”
Blum and others said it was not something known to the general public.
Treasurer Ted Drain said the school district request is not an emergency and earlier had said this grant cycle would not have more than $800,000 to award.
“If we give $200,00 then that leaves us just $600,000″ said board member Liz Hall.
Following some further discussion, including that district organizations could well apply for WCRF funds, a roll call vote resulted in Raber, Driscoll, Koller and Ousey voting yes with Slechta, Drain, Blum, Fisher, Kempf, Richards, Vittetoe, Hall and Putney, no.
In other business, the board:

• approved a resolution amending its by-laws to permit a director to serve three consecutive full terms of three years each, have a one-year absence from the board and be re-elected for another term. Prior to the approval, there was discussion about the approximate $3,000 cost for a DCI background investigation for any new members with Koller suggesting that terms end by natural attrition. She said that the funds saved could provide additional grants. Drain suggested that board members should change from time to time and Ken Kempf noted that the DCI fees are not that significant. The board is a self appointed one in that members approve any new members;
• approved four partial grants for previously allocated projects for Brighton, Highland School District, Keota School District and Washington Y;
• approved a change in the previously awarded $100,000 grant to the Washington County Conservation Board to allow funds to benefit the planned trail from Kalona to Richmond rather than the trail from Lake Darling to Brighton. Raber expaliend that the funds make the Kalona one near “shovel ready” while the other will take longer. The Lake Darling one involved consultant fees and Putney said that “If we build the trial, we can put our name on it, but we can’t do that with consultant fees.” He also suggested that the Kalona trail shoudl apply for another grant. Approval for the change was 9-4 with Putney, Blum, Kempf and Richards voting no and Vittetoe, Driscoll, Ousey, Hall, Koller, Slechta, Drain, Fisher and Raber, yes;
• approved a $10,000 grant to to the GIVE Foundation (which aids disabled veterans) to sponsor the dinner foillowing the annual golf tournament. Previously allocations for GIVE have been $5,000;
• set 5 p.m. Friday, October 9 for the deadline for the fall grant cycle applications; and
• set 6 p.m. September 16 in St. James Catholic Church gathering center for its next meeting.