But they need an additional $500,000 and they’ve targeted Warren County’s $7.5 million allocation through the American Rescue Plan.

The answer to the question on whether the project can proceed without an award from the county was succinct “No.”

City Planner Vince DeJoy says he’ll be presenting the project to the commissioners at next Monday’s work session.

“Once our team presents the project and funding proposal to the County Commissioners, I am not aware of their timeline for making a decision on any aspect for the County’s allocation of American Rescue Plan COVID relief funds,” he explained.

“It is my hope that as we will try to take next steps in the planning, design, and development for the boat launch project that the County Commissioners decision will be forthcoming, and not be too far into the future to lose momentum.”

Commissioner Jeff Eggleston said on Thursday all municipal requests will go through a process where the commissioners evaluate the need and the impact on the community.

Similar to the CARES Act funding last year, he explained that the commissioners are discussing funding for municipalities, as well as nonprofits and the “big ticket items” like broadband development.

“The challenge has been that the Treasury put out preliminary rules that are somewhat vague,” Eggleston explained.

He speculated that the final regulations should be available in the next month and that the commissioners don’t want to award funding to find out in two months that the allocation wasn’t appropriate.

“I think everyone (is) beating the same drum looking for clarity on the whole thing.”

When those final regulations are out “that’s when we’ll…flesh out what happens,” he said, explaining that another complicating factor is the pending infrastructure bill and what funding that theoretically could bring to the county.

The city’s request isn’t the only one that’s been made. Youngsville has asked for funding for a water and sewer project.

Eggleston said the county’s response to the city was that more time is needed to review the regulations and make a final determination.

“Personally, from my perspective, the project has merit,” he said. “(I) want to do whatever we can to work with the city and other municipalities in the community. The question is what that looks like.”

While it’s too soon to speculate where the county might go with funding awards, funding the boat launch remains a possibility.

“Nobody shut the door on it,” Eggleston said.