1. LATAH COUNTY COURTHOUSE WILL HAVE A HOME PAGE
AND WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING IN SEVERAL WEEKS--I learned
in talking to contacts at the courthouse that the Commissioners
in a 3-0 vote approved going on line. I applaud the Commissioners
and all of the elected officials and staff to supported this idea.
Nez Perce County is also going in this direction. Based on my
experience this will be an additional communications tool which
will help elected officials communicate with the public.
2. HELMER SEWER PROJECT--The Commissioners ask me to contact
DEQ to access the status of getting some $18,435 of state
matching funds as a 5% match for $360,000 to fund the project.
Congress has a Hardship Grant that Helmer may qualify for the
funding.
To be eligible a community must be below 3,000 population
and have an unemployment rate one percent above the
4.7% national level. Latah County is below the national
level so I'm requesting the Department of Labor to conduct a
survey of the of the affected population of Helmer to ascertain
the unemployment rate. My guess is that it will be one percent
above the 4.7% figure. The Department of Labor will get back
to me by Friday. My understanding is that once Helmer meets
the criteria then they can move ahead with the grant process.
The state match of 5% comes from a State Revolving fund--
from the waste water revolving fund. Helmer would also be
eligible to apply for up to 15% through a low interest rate program.
I'm hoping everyone can move ahead to get funding for the
project.
Rep. Tom Trail