County commissioners move ahead with solid waste grant

Grimes County commissioners held a Special Meeting, Wednesday, Dec. 4, and took action to support and enhance the county’s ability to secure funding from the Regional Solid Waste Grant Program. In a separate action, they also authorized County Judge Joe Fauth to request funding from the Brazos Valley Council of Governments (BVCOG), designating him as signatory.

With a unanimous vote, commissioners approved a Resolution presented by Environmental Coordinator Kat Lee on behalf of Keep Grimes County Beautiful (KGCB), an affiliate of Keep Texas Beautiful, to support Grimes County’s application for funds from the Regional Solid Waste Grant Program. Lee advised commissioners that Grimes County could submit a grant application with or without a resolution from KGCB, but the Resolution provides the county with “10 points” in what is a competitive grant process.

According to information available from the BVCOG, project screening criteria allows for a maximum score of 185. Points are assigned for each proposal based on the project’s description, work details, cost evaluation and the merits. In addition, approximately 60 points are awarded based on level of commitment by the entity, the governing body, the solid waste representative as well as Keep Texas Beautiful affiliation and past performance as a grant recipient.

Texas Health and Safety Code 361.014 provides for funding of solid waste grants from approximately one-third of the “tipping fees” assessed at landfills by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) with the grant funds administered by the 24 regional COGs.