04-20-1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--April 20, 1992 845 16. METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, Federal transportation planning Mr. Shannon said he learned at the eleventh hour that there may be $18-20,000 available for Cass County to use on a project within the Metropolitan Council of Governments' (COG) study area, which includes the first ring of townships around the urban area. He said the resolution to seek a coordinated integrated road system within urban and rural Cass County, which Fargo and Cass County signed, and which sought help from the North Dakota Department of Transportation, would have been an ideal project if West Fargo had signed this resolution. If Cass County loses this money because they didn't make a decision on how to use it, Mr. Shannon said he prefers to give Cass County's share to Fargo in appreciation for their effort to seek a cooperative road policy rather than have the money revert back for general unspecified spending. Mr. Brian Shorten, Executive Director of COG, provided copies of a memo and attachments on proposed allocation of new 1992 Federal transportation planning funds, which he sent to COG policy board members. He thought Mr. Eckert, Cass County's representative on the COG policy board, had discussed transportation planning funds with the County Commission because COG board members received a briefing paper in February. Mr. Shorten said COG expects to receive an additional $200,000 for transportation planning, and out of that amount, COG will retain about $45,000 for designated metropolitan-wide planning activities that have been requested by local officials. About $150,000 will be available for local distribution, and he said $18,750 would be allocated for use by Cass County if they can identify a project that will qualify for use of Federal transportation planning funds by Thursday's COG meeting. Mr. Shorten said an inter-jurisdictional road policy would have qualified if it had been a unanimous agreement between the County and the cities of Fargo and West Fargo. He understands that the City of West Fargo didn't sign it because they felt it was too vague. However, Mr. Shannon asked why they didn't prepare a counter-resolution. MOTION, passed Mr. Shannon moved and Mrs. Toussaint seconded to recommend to the COG board that Cass County's allocation of $18,750 be held on Cass County's behalf for a period of up to three years or until such time as the Council of Governments may determine; and that absent the ability to save or "bank" all or some of those funds, that those funds which can't be "banked" be given to the City of Fargo for transportation planning use in appreciation for their passing the resolution. Discussion: Mr. Shannon said an inter-jurisdictional road policy resolution would still be Cass County's number one consideration for these planning funds if such a resolution is reconsidered by the City of West Fargo. At the call for the question and upon roll call vote, the motion carried with four members voting "Aye," Mr. Eckert abstaining because he is Cass County's representative on the COG Board.