(Columbus) The Columbus City Council discussed a resolution for an adjusted urban map boundary at a recent committee of the whole meeting. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has asked the city to provide a new map.
The change in the map determines the city’s road funding from the DOT. Areas within the boundary receive funding from the urban transportation fund, with roads outside receiving money from the rural fund. Alderman Michael Lawson wondered how it was possible for the map line to be drawn outside city limits.
“This is what DOT shared with me,” says Director of Community and Economic Development Mike Kornmann. “I don’t have an answer for that.”
Kornmann says that is something he could investigate before the next council meeting. City Administrator Matt Amundson says it’s important to remember that this is what the DOT does to classify an urban area versus a rural area.
“This is a map that they draw to show eligibility for funding for those various grant programs that they offer and how they fund different highway projects,” Amundson says.
He adds that it also determines the eligibility of what is considered a rural road.
“They have different funding programs with lots of fun acronyms that outline, you know, the LRIP is the rural improvement program,” says Amundson. “And so, if you’re outside of this yellow line, that means you qualify to submit grants in the rural section. If you’re within the line, you qualify for the urban grant [program].”
The city administrator notes that it changes the level of competition and who you are going up against for funding. After some further discussion, the matter was moved forward to the regular council for a final vote.
