Newsletter · The Commission
GHRPC Newsletter, Issue #6, Second Quarter 2024
All 11 counties
The text of this document
The Regional Report April—June 2024 What’s Inside: Code Enforcement RISE Meeting SW-District B News
Executive Director’s Column: June 2024
CDBG News Transportation HMP
GREEN HILLS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
I left GHRPC in 2006 excited to see what new professional challenges lie ahead and can honestly say I had the same feeling when I accepted the role of Executive Director in May 2024. I am honored to continue implementing the mission and vision of the Commission members and leading a staff of dedicated professionals.
There have been many changes both within the organization and throughout the region during my 10 years with GHRPC. Change is synonymous with community and economic development. We’re either navigating the impacts of change, trying to affect change or creating solutions so as not to change what’s working. Proper planning, the bedrock of GHRPC, builds stability and guides us through change. It allows us to evaluate current practices and determine the need for new or different strategies. Planning also takes time and thoughtful deliberation to build a sustainable future. Planning does not happen in a vacuum, and I look forward to working with, and gaining knowledge from, many throughout the 11-county region. GHRPC said good bye to our Executive Director Corinne Watts. Her last day was May 31st. The staff let her know why we loved working with her with a canvas and wished her good luck in her future endeavors.
The last month has been a whirlwind finalizing the end of the fiscal year, familiarizing myself with new roles and enjoying Summer (on the days that aren’t scorching). Stay cool out there!
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Welcome Bob!
CODE ENFORCEMENT
Green Hills Regional Planning Commission welcomed Bob Mackintosh as our new Code Enforcement Officer on July 8th.
Bob Mackintosh is a semi-retired Realtor with over thirty years of experience with residential and land sales as well as utility easement acquisition in MO., KS., NE., IL., LA., and MT. Bob was raised in Gallatin where he now resides with Marlene, his wife and partner in grandparenting crime. Bob enjoys anything to do with cars, Jeeps, restoring older properties, yard work, time with his grandchildren, and tinkering with long overdue projects while being supervised by his five cats.
RISE Rebecca TenHulzen was interviewed on KTTN’s Open Line on April 19, 2024, where she discussed GHRPC and continued the conversation about the RISE program and ways to support small businesses and entrepreneurs. On April 24th GHRPC, MOSourceLink, theUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Small Business Administration (SBA) partnered in putting an event, Path to Prosperity. The event was held at Northwest Missouri State University Agricultural Learning Center, to provide individuals, small businesses, including agriculture enterprises (farmers and ranchers), and urban/rural communities, useful information, tools, resources, and an opportunity to engage in dynamic discussions intended to create economic progress. This event included panel discussions comprised of economic and lending experts, community partners and stakeholders, and broadband experts who identified challenges, shared best practices, and innovative solutions to accessing capital, and contracting opportunities. Presenters discussed how financial institutions, non-profits, public and private sectors, and community-based organizations encourage the development of a “Path to Prosperity” by:
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Incentivizing unbanked and under-banked small business owners and individuals to establish a sustainable relationship with an insured financial institution. Expanding technical assistance and financial education for small business owners and individuals to improve their bankability. Increasing the number of SBA certified lenders to provide access to capital for small, minority, and urban/rural underserved businesses; and Developing contracting relationships with Federal government and private industry partners.
CDBG Update: Green Hills Regional Planning Commission is preparing to submit four CDBG Demolition grants on September 6th. We have been working very closely with Trenton, Mendon, Linneus, and Chillicothe to get everything we need for a successful grant submittal. Our current projects include the City of Laredo-Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements; The City of Gallatin-Street Improvements; and the City of Princeton-Water Treatment/Storage. We are also working on the Carroll County Area YMCA project and the Thompson River Watershed plan.
May 14, 2024 – Carroll County Area YMCA Groundbreaking.
District grants provide financial assistance to cities, counties, non-profits and other organizations that will develop new or improved programs that will reduce the generation of solid waste, will create new markets or improve markets for recovered material, or will improve the handling of items banned from landfills by Missouri law. Contact Ann Hamilton for more information at ann@ghrpc.org.
Transportation Department Update New Equipment for Planning The transportation department at GHRPC has recently purchased some equipment that will allow us the ability to provide a sidewalk inventory of our communities. This data will be helpful for jurisdictions that would like to know more about the sidewalks within their city limits and could be used to establish priorities for maintaining safe and accessible walkways for its residents. The sidewalks will be assessed by several different attributes including surface condition, curb condition, width, and if there are obstructions present. This will be an ongoing priority for the transportation department. The equipment will provide a precise GPS location and interfaces with a handheld device. This will provide us with the ability to develop a map of the sidewalks and their conditions within a city. TAP Grants The TAP Grant winners were announced by MoDOT on July 1st, 2024. It was a very competitive round with several great applications. The City of Milan’s 2024 TAP Sidewalk Enhancement Phase VI was the sole grant recipient in the Green Hills Region to receive the grant. The total cost of the new sidewalk will be $483,060; Milan will be responsible for 20% of the total costs. Also competing in the TAP Grant cycle were the City of Carrollton, the City of Trenton, the City of Gallatin, and Livingston County. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, there were fewer projects funded in this round of TAP Grant awards. TAP grants are scored on a specific set of criteria and the projects that were funded scored the highest. The four components of a quality application are based on the thoroughness of the project description, the required attachments, the local match, and the cost estimate. The project is also evaluated on how well it provides connectivity within the proposed project and existing infrastructure. The transportation department at Green Hills RPC is familiar with the criteria and would be happy to review applications and offer suggestions prior to their submittal to MoDOT for TAP Grants or other transportation related grants. Multimodal Sub-Committee Recently MoDOT allocated additional money to provide a new framework for each region to establish a multimodal component to their TAC. There were a few different options in how each planning commission would form this new committee. Green Hills RPC opted to form a subcommittee that would meet twice annually and report directly to the TAC. At the last TAC meeting, the committee tabled the discussion about the subcommittee formation. The TAC will take this discussion up at the next meeting. MoDOT considers air, rail, waterways, commercial trucking, and hiking & biking trails as multimodal. Members of this new subcommittee should be reflective of the region. Good candidates for this subcommittee should be representatives of multimodal concerns in the region or subject-matter experts that understand the multimodal transportation needs of the Green Hills Region. According to MoDOT, the selection of this subcommittee should also include public engagement.
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Hazard Mitigation Update Plan Updates Every five years each county in the Green Hills Region will update their Hazard Mitigation Plans. This is an excellent opportunity for the counties to review their existing capabilities and develop plans to increase resilience to natural hazards. Planning for mitigation can and should reduce loss of life, property damage, and reduce economic impacts because of a disaster. Currently, GHRPC is working on the update of the Chariton County’s plan. Mitigation Grant Opportunities Our Hazard Mitigation Planner is currently working with cities in the area on projects such as storm water drainage improvements and a generator for a critical facility. Any action that is in the current plan is eligible for possible funding.
There will be money available for mitigation projects through BRIC and FMA grants, which is expected to become available in August. If your jurisdiction would like more information about funding projects or possible mitigation actions, please contact Amanda George, amanda@ghrpc.org.
810 Washington St Trenton, MO 64683 Phone: 660-359-5636 Fax: 660-776-3900
The Green Hills Regional Planning Commission (GHRPC), located in Trenton, MO, is one of nineteen organizations operating as a sub-state planning and development agency serving the State of Missouri. The Commission is organized as a voluntary association of local governments. The GHRPC retains a staff of professionals who work on projects intended to foster improved quality of life throughout the 11 county “Green Hills” region, which include: Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Putnam, and Sullivan counties.
Email: lisa@ghrpc.org
Mission Statement: Partner with rural communities to implement plans that promote a strong workforce and economic development by providing more housing, transportation and infrastructure choices, and protect natural resources for our region. Vision Statement: Improve social and economic climate and well-being of our region.
Upcoming Events:
Loan Readiness Workshop: September, 18 2024, 11 A.M.— 1 P.M., Sliced Bread in Chillicothe.
GHRPC/TAC/SWD Board Meetings: Thursday, September 26th, 2024, 9 A.M.—12 P.M.
Carrol County Pesticide Collection— October 4th, 2024, 8 A.M.— 12 P.M. in Carrolton. We’re on the web!! www.ghrpc.org
