County staff told commissioners Oct. 31 that Chase County will pursue multiple grants to support local infrastructure upgrades and emergency services equipment.

Christie reported the county received a Kansas Pipeline Association grant of $7,250 to pay for a FLIR camera and two years of contract service, and that a volunteer fire department grant awarded $4,937 to purchase three floating pumps — funds the department already has on hand and will not require a county match. Christie also said she is preparing an application to the Federal Lands Access Program to improve access to the Tallgrass National Preserve, specifically County Road 227 and Lower Fox Creek Road and bridge. She told the commission the federal lands money is distributed as a block grant to the state (the state’s allocation referenced in the presentation was $775,000) and that the Nature Conservancy (a federal partner for the preserve) has indicated willingness to discuss right-of-way issues.

On a larger scale, Christie described a bridge investment/Build Kansas proposal that, if funded, would reduce the county’s match obligation to roughly 5% of the project; she estimated Chase County’s share could be about $4.1 million for the county’s package as drafted and said the Build Kansas board requested a cost‑benefit analysis before awarding match funding. Christie said the county has budgeted allowance for a benefit‑cost analysis in federal proposals and that a realistic estimate to carry out that analysis for seven bridges ranges “$20,000 to $50,000,” though the federal application she prepared earmarked a larger contingency.

Christie asked the board for a letter of support from the commission for the County Road 227/Lower Fox Creek bridge project and said the Build Kansas grant cycle and some federal windows could require attention this fall and winter; she noted that one federal grant deadline in discussion is Dec. 12. The commission agreed Christie will draft the letter and county staff will circulate it for signatures.

The discussion was informational and procedural; commissioners did not commit county match dollars during the meeting beyond discussing how match requirements could be covered if grants are awarded.