Last Tuesday, February 11th, the Dawes County Board of Commissioners held a meeting where it was decided that the remaining Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds would be exhausted and put towards the ADA Plaza Restroom Project on Chadron’s Main Street.
KCSR News spoke with Commissioner Jake Stewart about the process. Stewart seemed enthusiastic about the decision and the fact that some has already been put to use in Crawford.
Jake also expressed the urgency among the commissioners to use the funds locally before the start of a new fiscal year.
But Stewart also explained that just because the Panhandle Area Development District authorized $99,000 in funds (out of the $108,000 requested), they will still be involved in the project throughout its construction.
Chadron City Manager, Tom Menke also spoke with KCSR to give an update on the project’s timeline.
Menke also seemed optimistic about the project and what it could mean for Chadron’s future.
Restrooms at the downtown plaza have been in talks among different groups since 2014 and will now be implemented after more than 10 years of speculation.