By Naomi Hatch Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials have notified the Town of Snowflake that the Northern Solution flood control project is being considered under three grant programs for the current grant cycle, Town Manager Brian Richards advised the town council July 14. Council members approved a resolution that evening ensuring that the required matching funds would be paid. Richards updated the council on the Northern Solution, explaining that the town applied for a FEMA grant with a project total of $412,661 toward the design and construction of the Northern Solution. The Arizona Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) has ranked the Northern Solution as one of the project finalists in the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), number four in the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program and among the top 10 in the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program. The town manager noted that FEMA will provide up to a maximum of 75 percent, and the grant budget request of $306,457 in federal funds. The proposed resolution ensures FEMA during the nationwide competitive selection process that the remaining $106,204 in costs will be met by the town. Backup material for the item noted that, “The proposed resolution allows the town and its partners flexibility in achieving the required non-federal match. The town has identified approximately $10,764 of the match to come from ‘in-kind’ grant administration labor. It is not uncommon for communities receiving these grants to assist in construction, inspection or administration…minimizing the community’s capital outlay to meet the required match.” Richards explained that a resolution was passed in August 2014, and Resolution 15-08 is an update to that resolution. Mayor Tom Poscharsky explained that in 2003 they had a very bad, heavy rain, a 500-year flood that came through the golf course, went across the road, and down and into the entrance at the industrial park, flooding Eurofresh and other business in that area. “Since that time, and mainly through the efforts of Brian (Richards) trying to get us grants, we’ve been working on solutions for those problems,” said the mayor, who further noted that due to a basin by Freeman Hollow built in 2012, flooding has substantially been reduced. They just completed another part of the Southern Solution on Snowflake Blvd. East, and the Northern Solution will be on the north side of the tomato plant. “Hopefully, we’ll get all this water down the creek again,” said the mayor. In response to a question posed by the mayor, Richards replied that to date, the project has cost approximately $4 million. The council unanimously approved Resolution 15-08, ensuring the required non-federal match toward the construction of the Northern Solution if the grant is awarded by FEMA.