RCOC grant could bring federal funds to help village pay for Flint repaving

If an application for a grant through the Road Commission for Oakland County is successful, the Village of Lake Orion could receive federal funds to help pay for the repaving of Flint Street.
The village council voted to have village manager JoAnn Van Tassel sign the grant application on behalf of the village at their Jan. 9 meeting.
Tom Biehl of Hubbell, Roth and Clark, the village’s engineering firm, told council members the grant would be awarded by mid-March.
‘Funding is available for eligible portions of the project,? he said. ‘That would be for road work only.?
The grant would pay for 50 percent of the project, currently estimated at a cost of $263,965.
The entire project on Flint calls for curb replacement, and milling down the roadway 2-3 inches before new asphalt is overlaid on top.
Biehl said the village is also getting quotes to have the storm sewers televised, to look for any problems there.
‘That’s a different division of the contract, and that can be deleted later if the council wants,? he said.
According to Biehl, if the village is approved for the grant, funds would be dispersed in the 2008-09 fiscal year.
‘So you would be reimbursed,? he said. ‘The grant is through the RCOC, but it is federal money.?
Van Tassel told The Review that the village council currently does not have a start date for the Flint project, because they are still waiting for a final cost estimate.
?(Approving the grant application) is all we’ve done,? she said. ‘But there is money in a special account to begin the work.?