Published: November 19, 2009 11:31 am      

CCCDA tightens grant extension rules

CLINTON — After awarding numerous extensions to projects such as the extension of 19th Avenue North, the Clinton County Community Development Association decided Wednesday that tighter restrictions need to be placed on recipients.

The committee approved a resolution to its existing grant extension policy that extensions can be made for any length of time but cannot exceed 12 months.

If extensions are requested beyond 12 months, the organization requesting the extra time will be required to appear before the board to present a detailed description and summary of the project.

Recipients may also have to go back through the process if the project has been significantly altered since first presented to the gaming board.

The issue was discussed in great length at the committee’s board retreat last month. Members also cited the numerous extensions it granted for the disc golf course in Eagle Point Park as a need for a change.

The CCCDA is a nine-member board that distributes money generated from Wild Rose Casino and Resort throughout Clinton County. The board has also helped fund the Discovery Center, Sawmill Museum and other projects throughout the area.

In other action, CCCDA President Gerry Freudenberg notified board members of a legal opinion he received stating that the CCCDA would not be liable for long-term commitments if it no longer had the money to make payments.

The CCCDA has awarded multi-year grants for Vision Iowa and has discussed giving $2 million over 10 years for the Lincolnway Railpark. Up to this point, the board has committed $200,000 to the latter project.

The board will next meet Dec. 16 at the Wild Rose Casino.