One city alderman continues to question the details surrounding consistent payments associated with grant management for the historic Afro-American Sons and Daughters Hospital site.
During Monday’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, Alderman Charlie Jenkins questioned an invoice on the city’s claim docket to PM Environmental in the amount of $2,152.43. The payment included two invoices for “grant expenses” for $912.43 and $1,240.
The discussion has been brought to the table several times in the past with city leaders questioning the payments towards the extensive hospital project, which is covered under the city’s most recent Brownfields Grant program. The city was awarded the most recent grant program in 2021, with an expiration date of this year. Alma Jones, the city’s grant manager, said the grant, which was awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency, totaled $250,000.
The Brownfields Cleanup Grant programs provides funding to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum), and/or petroleum.
PM Environmental was selected as the grant overseer. Last month, Jones told The Herald that since the grant’s most recent acceptance by the city concerning the historic hospital in 2021, PM Environmental has been paid a total of $12,246.27. But some city council members have questioned what the payments covered, adding that they had not seen much work at the site before it was left in ruins following a fire in October of 2022.
“I guess we will get a chance to look at the invoice on it today,” Jenkins said. “That’s two different invoices, and I don’t really know what it is.”
City Clerk Kaneilia Williams said PM Environmental handles the grant management. But Jenkins said he would still like an answer as to what “grant management” covers.
With Jones absent at Monday’s meeting, board attorney Lilli Evans-Bass suggested that the city board hold a work session specifically to cover the city’s grant programs.
“But what about keeping the grass cut,” Jenkins asked. “It looks like a jungle. I understand they are going to take the building down, but I still think it should be maintained.”
“It should fall under the grant to manage it,” replied Bass-Evans. “We need to figure out what is under the grant with the upkeep of the property.”
The Herald contacted Jenkins following Monday’s meeting to determine if any clarity had been provided pertaining to PM Environmental’s most recent invoices. He said he did not receive any but said he would continue to question the matter until he got some answers.
Based on the city’s claims docket spanning back several years, PM Environmental has been paid mostly for “grant management, community engagement and grant expense.” The details surrounding PM Environmental’s grant management has been discussed among city leaders for the past several months with no exact answer.
