The Madison County Board unanimously voted to authorize $143,548 in grants for environmental initiatives on March 15, supporting projects for several municipalities, townships and park districts throughout the county.
The board awarded 11 taxing districts a portion of the grant funds.
Grant recipients and projects include:
| Madison County
- Alhambra: $7,716 for solar powered radar signs
- Alton: $15,000 for Olin Park Restoration
- Alton Township: $8,000 for the Wadlow Restoration Project
- East Alton: $15,000 for community recycling containers
- Edwardsville: $15,000 for wastewater treatment plant LED conversion
- Edwardsville Township: $15,000 for HVAC building renovation
- Granite City Park District: $15,000 for Legacy Golf Course shoreline stabilization
- Marine Township: $13,765 for energy efficient windows/building generator
- Roxana Park District: $11,757 to upgrade the community pool filtration room
- South Roxana: $12,310 for playground safety/accessibility project
- Wood River: $15,000 for Belk Park lake erosion control project
Building and Zoning Administrator Chris Doucleff said the projects were originally limited to recycling and waste diversion when the county first established the grant program in 2001.
“In recent years, the county revisited the types of projects that could be done,” Doucleff said in a press release. “The projects will meet the statutory requirements, but allow the county to accommodate a broader scope to include plan and policy development, stormwater management, efficient and alternative energy projects and environmental restoration work.”
Doucleff said the program provides financial support for projects that align with the county’s environmental goals and initiatives. Monies have been used from the landfill “host” or “tipping” fee fund to pay for more than 170 projects since the program’s inception.
County Board member Denise Wiehardt (R-Granite City) chairs the Grants Committee and said the environmental grants are a good use of the tipping fees. She added that the projects are tailored to the needs of the taxing districts.
“These grants benefit the taxing districts and provide funding for upgrades or replacement of older, non-environmentally friendly infrastructure,” she said.
Grant recipients will be required to undergo site visits upon project completion and submit a final report with their funding reimbursement request.