Allen County commissioners said Tuesday, in a statement just short of locking them in, they would make available $335,000 to pay for extension of gas, water and sewer lines to a 31-acre industrial tract east of Humboldt.
As discussion unfolded, Humboldt Administrator Cole Herder announced the U.S. Economic Development Administration had denied the city a grant to pay half the cost of the utility project, estimated by engineers at $672,000.
Cole was not deterred: I think we can do the project for half the estimate.
Herder said not having to meet a long agenda of federal rules and regulations would lower the cost of the work. Herder said they could save $65,000 by using local equipment, eliminating the need for a grant administrator and not having to pay wages set by the federal government.
By doing much of the work in-house, with a local contractor and taking advantage of county and the benevolence of local companies Monarch Cement is the site developer and B&W Trailer Hitches is a neighbor construction and material costs will plummet, Herder predicted.
Also, he said loops to give backup access to water and gas lines could be omitted at at the start, and added at some later date.
I think we can get costs down to half or less of the estimate, he said.
Commissioners voiced their support and may vote as soon as next week to make the funds available.
Commissioners, to a one, said they looked at helping with the project as countywide economic development.
Murphy Tractor, Wichita, already is on board to open a repair and maintenance shop on the site. Herder said two other businesses have indicated more than passing interest. We may be looking at 20 or 30 or even 100 new jobs, he said.
My perspective is the project is good for Allen County and Humboldt, and the quicker its done the better, said Chairman Tom Williams.
He will be out of pocket for next Tuesdays meeting, and told commissioners Jerry Daniels and John Brocker to forge ahead with approval of the county participating if Herder by then has firm costs. You know how I feel, he added.
Im still fully committed, Daniels said, observing as his motivation the likelihood of the industrial tract soon holding several businesses. Its also a possible site for a (new) Humboldt ambulance barn.
Im in agreement, Brocker chimed in. We need to be involved in anything that will bring jobs and grow Allen County. From the beginning I thought this was one of the better things brought to the table.
We have a long list of generous and capable people in Allen County, to help with the project, and I want Murphy Tractor open as soon as possible, Daniels said.
