One Indianola alderman would like to see a change in the way funds are disbursed for the city’s grant writers.
Ward 1 Alderman Gary Fratesi led Monday night’s discussion on the subject, proposing that the city modify its contracts to stipulate that payments, including for grant writing and administration, would only be made after the city receives the corresponding grant funds.
This change aims to mitigate financial risks and ensure that taxpayer money is safeguarded until funds are confirmed, Fratesi said.
During the discussion, Ward 4 Alderman Marvin Elder sought clarification regarding the payment structure for the city’s grant writer, Dr. Adrian Brown of Brown & Associates. He emphasized the importance of allowing Brown to explain the role of the grant writer and the processes involved in securing funds.
Brown addressed the board, detailing his past work and the contributions of his firm in obtaining grants for the city.
However, before Brown spoke, City Attorney Derek Hopson advised the board and Fratesi that creating a uniform payment plan could be problematic, as each grant has different stipulations and requirements.
Fratesi noted that in the past, the city has been awarded grants but later lost those awards. In cases where professional services were paid out ahead of receiving the funds, the city was out that money.
He noted that if the city receives a grant and later loses it due to the city’s negligence, the grant writer should be paid a portion of the original grant fees.
The move gained little traction, and there was no action taken by the board.
