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February 3, 2022 <br /> TO: Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe & Members of the Decatur City Council <br /> FROM: Scot Wrighton, City Manager <br /> RE: Water Resources Consultant <br /> The city of Decatur has embarked on a major, long-term initiative to reduce siltation in Lake <br /> Decatur, improve water quality, and expand its current and prospective raw water supply <br /> options.Thankfully,there are several State and Federal grant, loan and technical assistance <br /> programs available to defray some of the costs of this initiative as the city moves forward. But <br /> access to these programs is competitive and requires that the city develop new contacts in <br /> State and Federal water resource agencies. <br /> State and Federal Environmental Protection Agencies offer clean water revolving funds and <br /> water quality management/planning grants.The recently adopted Federal Infrastructure <br /> Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 will have some funding that could be applied to Decatur <br /> projects.The best possibilities for financial and technical assistance are through the USDA and <br /> include programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service for watershed <br /> protection and flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, municipal and industrial water <br /> supply improvements, and emergency watershed protection. However, our current staff and <br /> technical consultants do not have the time, or in some cases,the political and intergovern- <br /> mental expertise,to land significant funding and technical assistance for these planned water <br /> resource projects. For this reason, it is recommended that the city hire this expertise. <br /> Staff spent several months seeking the services of intergovernmental specialists with a specialty <br /> in water resource funding, watershed management programs and related technical assistance <br /> programs.The mayor and city manager interviewed two of the consultants. From this process, <br /> it is recommended that the city retain Lisa Bonnett for a one-year engagement. Ms. Bonnett's <br /> resume, a professional services agreement, and an agreement that includes a narrative of the <br /> expected services to be provided to the city are all attached. <br />