Rules don't leave enough time for grant

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

SEBRING -- In a telephone interview, county engineer Ramon Gavarette explained why he recommended the county commission reject of the federal grant to synchronize lights on U.S. 27.

"Every penny of federal dollars has strings attached," he said. "We are given only a year to complete the project, but six to nine months of that time is taken up with paper work."

Gavarette added that the grant does not provide the money up front, but reimburses the county afterwards.

"I'm not going to spend Highlands County tax payer money if we can't get it back," he said.

Gavarette had hoped, once it became clear to him the deadlines could not be met, to reassign the grant to Phase III of the Parkway, but this was rejected by the federal granting agencies.

He added that Republican Congressman John Mica, the current chairman of the transportation committee, is introducing legislation to streamline the process of awarding and executing federal grants.

"I'm crossing my fingers," Gavarette said.