by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - It was last year when half a million dollars was awarded to the island's mayors for the repair and renovation of several facilities in our island's 19 villages. It may not be much when divided by nineteen, but any money that will go toward repairing the leaking roof of a gym or provide lights for a baseball field is appreciated.

"It's going to go a long way," said Angel Sablan, executive director of the Mayors Council of Guam. It was in April last year the governor, the mayors, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo and Senator Tina Muna Barnes began efforts to secure a half million in federal grant money. Their effort paid off because the Department of Interior awarded the grant to the mayors for the expansion, extension, repair and renovation of parks and athletic courts located in the island's villages.

"And so the first $500,000 we've already secured, we've gotten that grant, it's just a matter of getting all the villages to submit their bids or their quotes for all these projects of course we have 19 villages and each of them have identified at least three projects in their village that they can work with this grant and many of them are for refurbishment and renovation of recreational facilities, community centers and their gyms," Sablan said.

Senator Brant McCreadie meanwhile says in meeting with several island mayors, they were concerned about the status of the grant prompting him to send a letter to Congresswoman Bordallo asking what's the holdup. "I wanted to just ensure that these moneys are getting to them as soon as possible because they need it right away," he said.

But putting the pressure on the Mayors Council has Senator Barnes responding if he wanted clarification it would have been prudent if he came to her since she has oversight over the Mayors Council. "He may be misinformed because he may have thought some of the mayors who approached him did not receive the money," she said.

She is, however, appreciative of his efforts, noting, "'I think to get another member in this body to help out is a good thing."

So what exactly is the status of the federal funding? Barnes says although the allotment was approved, the mayors also have to provide proper documentation. "They had to do some prerequisites, they had to some quotations and shop and work with the different vendors, be able to get all the documentations in, submit their formal request to the Mayors Council in order to get approved," she said,

Meanwhile Sablan says it was only around October that they were able to package everything together. He adds while some villages have new mayors, the projects already in place by the former mayors cannot be changed. Four villages have already submitted their project quotes and could start as early as next month.

The congresswoman in the meantime responded to Senator McCreadie's inquiry, saying she appreciates him contacting her on the matter in ensuring the mayors receive these funds and will work closely with Sablan to complete all the necessary documentation.

MCOG president Mayor Paul McDonald says everyone has good intentions of following up on the matter since they've been talking about the grant since last summer which could leave some mayors concerned of the time it's taking to see the projects get off the ground. "I was elected to ask questions and find out certain things that I think the public should know," he said.

McCreadie said, "At the end of the day if we can improve those qualities of life at the village level to our people of this island that's all that matters."

Another half million dollar grant has been requested and awaits approval by DOI and should provide additional funding for the renovations.