Elmer City to get state road funds

Elmer City was selected to receive a “chip seal” grant from the state Department of Transportation, city officials learned Monday.

The Transportation Improvement Board grant is for $82,705, and funds will be available in 2018 for a project on Elmer City Access Road.

“We were happy to receive the grant news,” public works director Jimmer Tillman stated.

Tillman said there are some extreme cracks on the road, and the grant will enable the town to improve the road condition.

Elmer City had asked for $151,000 for the chip seal grant, but was awarded $82,705.

Two other local municipalities, Electric City and Grand Coulee, put in for similar chip seal grants but were not selected in this announcement.

Elmer City was also nominated by the TIB for a “Complete Streets” grant.

Eighty small cities in the state were nominated for the grant, including three from Okanogan County; Elmer City one of them. Twisp and Winthrop were also nominated.

Nominations can come from a variety of agencies.

“The award on the Complete Street grants will be made in January,” Tillman stated.

The Complete Streets grants are for $250,000 and can be used for any type of street programs.

“They give you three years to use the grant money,” Tillman stated.