Grand Coulee may get another shot at DOJ grant, with fewer strings attached

A large law enforcement grant Grand Coulee turned down last year due to lack of matching funds may have a new lease on life. 

A U.S. Department of Justice representative contacted the city last month indicating the department would prefer the $293,195 grant be used, even if it means forgoing the local match requirement and expanding the scope of possible activities that could be funded, according to Mayor Mike Eylar.

“Apparently this is a matter of, it’s simpler for them to award the money without the restrictions than it is to take the hassle of bringing it back,” Eylar said in his office Tuesday. “For us, it’s a boon.”

Eylar will lay out the updated terms for the city council at their April 16 meeting. It is then on the council to decide whether to accept it. If they do, the city will then present the proposed new project scope to the DOJ for approval.

GCPD Officer Matt Gilbert had applied for the grant last year on behalf of the city, for a program to improve Grand Coulee’s capacity to combat violent crime, according to grant documents. The program would have installed a school resource officer at Lake Roosevelt Schools, but the student body was split on the idea of an armed officer on campus, which gave the administration pause.

Without the school district as a partner, the city council determined they did not have the required matching funds and directed the city attorney to turn down the funding.

Although the initial grant was designated strictly for law enforcement, even that may be up for discussion. 

“They have since said that we might — and this is a might — we might be able to use some of the funding for first responder, i.e., fire department, as well,” Eylar said. “So it’s just going to be a matter of us submitting the request and seeing whether or not they agree.”

When Eylar initially introduced this item at the council’s March meeting, some council members expressed hesitation, wanting to see the offer in writing. 

Eylar said yesterday he’s received clarification from the DOJ “that will hopefully be compelling for the council to approve it.”

“Obviously with our new chief coming in, we’ve got a lot of opportunity here that I hate for us to miss on,” he said.

The council will take up the topic at their meeting April 16 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.