Marion approve survey for grants
Staff writer
Marion city council members voted to spend up to $5,000 for Ranson Citycode Financial, a firm it uses to write and administer community development block grants, to survey residents to see whether the city still qualifies for those grants.
In a letter to the council, Ranson’s Rose Mary Saunders proposed that she prepare a door-to-door survey for all water customers including those in Marion County Improvement District No. 2 at the county lake. The survey would ask about their incomes.
To qualify for water supply grants or loans — or other CDBG funds — the city must have 51% of residents with low to moderate incomes.
Once results are tabulated by Saunders, who promised to follow up with residents who did not complete the survey, the city would know whether it is eligible to apply for future funding.
Council members also approved giving each residence participating in the survey a $5 discount on their water bill.