Cache County Council Special Meeting – 11-04-2025

- The meeting was a public hearing on potential Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications, with staff emphasizing that no project decisions were being made yet and that the purpose was to gather ideas from the public. - Lucas Martin of the Bear River Association of Governments explained that CDBG funds are generally for infrastructure and other eligible community projects serving low- to moderate-income areas, and that Cache County would need a materially complete application by the current December 1 deadline. - County leadership clarified that nonprofits cannot apply directly for funds, but they can ask the county to sponsor an application on their behalf. - Cache County Fire District Chief Brady George proposed several fire-related projects, including replacement of aging fire apparatus, and improvements or replacement of stations in Paradise, Newton, and Trenton, noting seismic and space issues in some facilities. - Council questions focused on whether those fire facilities serve enough county residents and how low- to moderate-income eligibility would be determined; staff explained that an income survey of the relevant service area would be required and could support future projects in that area. - Lucas Martin also clarified that CDBG is for new infrastructure, not routine maintenance, using the example that the program would fund a new fire hydrant but not repair of an old one. - Giselle Madrid of the Cache County Senior Center requested consideration for replacing two aging Meals on Wheels vehicles, adding a backup generator, and possibly pursuing a new senior center or land acquisition due to the building’s age. - A representative speaking for the Cache Community Food Pantry requested swamp coolers for a storage warehouse and backup generators to protect refrigerated and frozen food during outages. - Cache County grant administrator Alma Burgess mentioned possible CDBG ideas for the Election Center at the airport, including bathroom accessibility improvements and a backup generator, and said the CJC had not identified any needs at this time. - The council directed residents and organizations to work through Alma Burgess with specific proposals, which would then come back in a future public meeting for formal discussion and possible action; the meeting ended with adjournment.