The Pulaski County CDC continues work to tie up a few loose ends prior to starting construction on a quality of life project linking Pulaski County.
During Monday night’s Pulaski County Commissioners meeting, a planned bike route network was revisited to check in on the progress of the project. It’s part of the Office of Community and Rural Affair’s “Hometown Collaboration Initiative.”
CDC Executive Director Nathan Origer says he’s waiting on a bit of clarification about reporting deadlines from the state.
“I’m not sure when because the quarters are based on when the grant was officially awarded and when we turned paperwork back in.,” says Origer. “I’m not exactly sure. So I know that I’ve got to get reporting to them soon and we can do the drawdown for $10-thousand at one time and keep them apprised of spending as it comes along.”
The Community Development Commission spent months gathering public input to select whether HCI grant funds should be used for leadership training, economic development or quality of life improvement. The bike route network looks to connect Pulaski county’s individual communities as a way to improve life for residents without showing favor for one community over another.
Maps for the proposed bike route have been finalized at the local level with reporting requirements for the HCI grant being ironed out between the CDC and OCRA. The paper trail has been a bit tedious due to the route circling Lake Bruce on the Fulton County line and entering into the Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area.
Further, the CDC must also receive permits from the Indiana Department of Transportation because the route joins with state highways. Origer says INDOT’s guidance is needed.
“A very short distance in Pulaski we’re actually on 119 and then to get out to the Fish and Wildlife Area, we’re on 143,” says Origer. “So when we use state highways, we have to have a permit and they’ve been a little tardy in responding to explain how that works.”
Construction on the bike trails is expected to start after permitting has been gained from INDOT.
