Okaloosa County BOCC — July 2, 2013 — Action Item Printout — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: August 6, 2013 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Elliot Kampert SUBJECT: 2013-2014 Shoal River Defense Infrastructure Grant Application DEPARTMENT: Growth Management BCC DISTRICT: 1 BACKGROUND: Funds have become available through the Defense Infrastructure Grant (DIG) program as provided in Chapter 288 of the Florida Statutes. The purpose of the DIG program is to provide funds to local governments for projects (e.g. construction, land purchases, easements) that have a positive impact on an installation’s military value and which also benefit the local community. It is the intention of the program to address issues such as encroachment, transportation and access, utilities, communications, housing, environment, and security. Infrastructure related projects can include studies and analyses specifically in support of infrastructure projects. It is not the intent of the Florida Legislature to fund on-base military construction projects. There is a limit of $200,000.00 per application, and communities may submit an application for two projects per base or installation. Applications must be submitted to Enterprise Florida through the Economic Development Council. The application deadline is August 23, 2013. The attached application requests $200,000 to be used by the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Department to acquire property along the Shoal River that will protect a future water supply as well as buffer Duke Field from encroachment that could negatively impact missions. The attached application builds on prior Shoal River DIG applications as well as the Water and Sewer Department's prior acquisition of land along the Shoal River. Due to time constraints, the Base Commander's and EDC Director's signatures could not be obtained prior to the August 6 BCC agenda deadline. These signatures will be obtained subsequent to BCC approval and prior to the submission to Enterprise Florida. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board review and approve the proposed Defense Infrastructure Grant application, and authorize the Chairman to sign the grant application and if successful, the subsequent grant agreement and any other grant documents required during the term of the grant. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator