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The Nevada City Police Department hit the jackpot with a half-million dollar federal stimulus grant that could bring three new personnel on staff.
If Nevada City council members vote to accept the $510,090 grant at their meeting Wednesday, the police department will be able to hire two police officers and a records secretary, and eliminate monthly furlough days for the next two years.
“This will be a significant boost,” said Nevada City police Chief Lou Trovato, who first heard about the city's win in mid-September. “There are a lot of things it'll help us participate in.”
The competitive grant, which is awarded over two years, will make a big impact in a department with an annual budget of about $1.7 million.
The force consists of 10 full-time officers, two community service officers and one cadet.
For almost a year, the department has left a front desk position vacant, and various officers have filled in to complete clerical tasks.
With the additional officers, the force will step up its visible patrols and won't be shorthanded when officers take vacation or training days.
The grant comes from more than $4 billion in federal stimulus money earmarked for state, local and tribal law enforcement. Nevada City's grant is part of $125 million in assistance to rural law enforcement agencies.
Stimulus money already is at work around Nevada County.
A $1.1 million grant is funding construction of a new fire station for the Rough and Ready Volunteer Fire Department. Nevada City won a grant to re-pave Broad Street, although that money has yet to come through, said City Manager Gene Albaugh.
The only concern Trovato expects to hear from council members when they meet Wednesday is what the department will do when the grant expires, the police chief said. Sometimes, grants stipulate that the city must keep the employees who are hired with federal money.
Stimulus money is meant as a temporary relief to local governments struggling amid the recession. He hopes the financial crisis will end by the time the grant expires, but if it doesn't, he plans to allow vacancies on the force again, Trovato added.
The matter will come before the Nevada City City Council, which meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 317 Broad St., downtown.
To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.
If Nevada City council members vote to accept the $510,090 grant at their meeting Wednesday, the police department will be able to hire two police officers and a records secretary, and eliminate monthly furlough days for the next two years.
“This will be a significant boost,” said Nevada City police Chief Lou Trovato, who first heard about the city's win in mid-September. “There are a lot of things it'll help us participate in.”
The competitive grant, which is awarded over two years, will make a big impact in a department with an annual budget of about $1.7 million.
The force consists of 10 full-time officers, two community service officers and one cadet.
For almost a year, the department has left a front desk position vacant, and various officers have filled in to complete clerical tasks.
With the additional officers, the force will step up its visible patrols and won't be shorthanded when officers take vacation or training days.
The grant comes from more than $4 billion in federal stimulus money earmarked for state, local and tribal law enforcement. Nevada City's grant is part of $125 million in assistance to rural law enforcement agencies.
Stimulus money already is at work around Nevada County.
A $1.1 million grant is funding construction of a new fire station for the Rough and Ready Volunteer Fire Department. Nevada City won a grant to re-pave Broad Street, although that money has yet to come through, said City Manager Gene Albaugh.
The only concern Trovato expects to hear from council members when they meet Wednesday is what the department will do when the grant expires, the police chief said. Sometimes, grants stipulate that the city must keep the employees who are hired with federal money.
Stimulus money is meant as a temporary relief to local governments struggling amid the recession. He hopes the financial crisis will end by the time the grant expires, but if it doesn't, he plans to allow vacancies on the force again, Trovato added.
The matter will come before the Nevada City City Council, which meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 317 Broad St., downtown.
To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.
