Things are looking good for the Town of Duck Hill, with a project that is set to get underway after bids have been opened, to being steps closer to learning if they’ve been approved for funding for a sewer project, to deciding what to do with their ARPA funding.
But, they’re not stopping there – they’re going after more funding that will help to benefit the town and are working toward submitting a resolution to the resolution the legislature for a two percent tax.
Engineer Joe Sutherland told Mayor Al White and the Duck Hill Board of Aldermen that a site visit via Zoom for their Community Development Block Grant went well and they may be close to learning if they’ve been awarded or not.
If approved, that funding will be one of three the town currently has, and that’s on top of the internet sales tax money. The Town of Duck Hill also was appropriated $200,000 for street repairs for two streets, Rosemont Street and Lauren Street. Work will also be done on Sykes Street.
The town also has its American Rescue Plan Act money that it’s still deciding how to spend and if approved the Community Development Block Grant, will be the third source of funding.
But, they’re not stopping there, the town of Duck Hill is going after more funding.
“Will this just be an overlay or will the road be dug up and rebuilt,” Alderman Shernell Everett asked. Sutherland said it’s an overlay but he has proper repairs built into the project.
“We were up for funding for a $4 million for the past two years, and we just haven’t gotten it. If we had that funding, it would have been. But, we don’t have the million funding so it won’t be,” Sutherland said.
Also, Alderman Christopher Caldwell asked Fire Chief Michael Woods what he looked for in a volunteer fireman.
“They need to be willing to learn and willing to listen,” Woods said. He said there’s a volunteer certification class taught at the Winona Fire Department that he sends volunteer firemen to take.
“I got two in the last [class] right now,” he said.
But, Woods cautioned Caldwell to tell those interested not to think they’re getting gear immediately.
“I’m not putting them in $2,500 worth of gear,” he said. “We’ve done that before and had problems with getting it back.” Woods said he wants to be sure that those who want to be part of the volunteer fire department, really want to be apart.
Woods said when it comes to being a volunteer fireman, there’s a sacrifice a person has to be willing to make.
“You miss things. There’s always a fire on 4th of July, there’s always a fire on Christmas. And I’ve had to leave things to respond. It’s….it’s a sacrifice and they have to know that. I know it’s just volunteer, but it’s – it’s a sacrifice,” he said. “But, if they’re willing tell them to come on.”
