Granite Shoals pursues grant funds for $5 million streets project

The Granite Shoals City Council on Tuesday night, March 8, resolved to pursue grant support for a $5 million street improvement project.

The council authorized City Manager Ken Nickel to proceed with an application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a grant to repair Phillips Ranch Road and Prairie Creek Road to a standard equal to Ranch to Market Road 1431.

The city is preparing to celebrate for its 50th Anniversary Bash, April  23-24, as citizens travel streets that pre-date its incorporation. Surveys identified those streets as a high prioriity and the council was already involved in public forums and traffic and engineering studies when it was learned a grant might be available.

Unable to pass by the opportunity for a grant that pay 55 percent of a project, a grant application will be submitted, even as the council strategize ways to pay for the project, even at less than half price.

A large contingent of citizens returned to speak to the council about airport improvement. A new resolution created new parameters for an Airport Advisory Committee, not long ago considered for dissolution. New members were appointed and challenged with backing renewed interest by meeting demands of one of the city's hardworking volunteer groups.

See the full story in the Friday, March 11 edition of The Highlander.