VINTON – An update of the Herring Hotel Project in Belle Plaine was given at the Benton County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019, as an important deadline looms in the grant application process.

Phil Borleske of the Benton County Historical Preservation Commission explained to the supervisors that a preliminary application was to be submitted to the state by the previous Friday.

The final deadline is Sept. 7. The commission is helping the foundation apply for the grant, and weeks before, the supervisors agreed to support the application.

Borleske said the commission did its part in this. He said this is all contingent on the Herring Hotel Foundation doing their work in this, so they can present materials to the state. “I don’t know where it’s at,” observed Borleske of the process. “It’s not moving very fast.”

When Supervisor Gary Bierschenk said he received some phone calls in opposition to the project, Borleske said, “It’s a very interesting situation.” He stressed the Herring foundation has to carry through on their part of the application. If this doesn’t get done, he’s not sure what happens.

Borleske stressed the commission is trying to help the Herring group with their application, while not getting involved in the politics of it. “They have to do their part in order for us to do our part,” Borleske explained.

Benton County Attorney David Thompson said, that in fairness, one of those involved is having a family emergency.

The deadline missed was an opportunity to submit their first proposal and have it reviewed, and have it come back with constructive criticism, Borleske said. This prepares them for the final September deadline. If it’s not in for the final deadline, they won’t be eligible for the grant.

Thompson saw the first deadline as a chance to submit a rough draft and have it critiqued. They followed the same process when submitting for the courthouse clock project for a different grant. That group did not submit a rough draft, but did submit the final draft on time and was successful.

The board and officials awaited a letter that morning, for the board to sign from another commission member. After the letter did not arrive, Borleske said he’d come back again, if it all comes together.

In other business, a representative from the U.S. Census Bureau is looking to hire people for the 2020 census. The count is important in reapportioning congressional seats and is used in determining federal funding for local jurisdictions.