BISBEE — When it comes to deciding who gets a piece of the Community Development Block Grant pie, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors must weigh the anticipated advantages and the odds of getting a certain project funded.

The main criteria for a grant award is that it must benefit low- to moderate-income families and the community.

On Tuesday, Patty Lewis, the county’s grant coordinator, reviewed the list of possible projects that meet the grant’s criteria. With $326,904 to work with, she laid out three scenarios of projects most likely to get funded. An 18 percent cut for county and other administration fees must be included for each project.

The Housing Authority of Cochise County, the county lead abatement program, a new fire vehicle for the Bowie Fire District, Wesleyan parking lot paving and Bowie Park improvements were under consideration, though there was not enough money to fund them all.

In one option, the housing authority would get $190,561 to provide emergency repairs for low- and moderate-income families, the lead abatement program would get $37,500 to continue the program for a second year, $40,000 would go to Wesleyan for asphalt paving, and $58,843 covers administration costs.

The second option offered by Lewis was $75,000 for the housing authority, $37,500 for lead abatement program, $175,000 for a new fire truck for Bowie, and $39,404 for administration fees.

The third option includes $145,000 for the housing authority, $37,500 for lead abatement, $20,000 for Wesleyan to chip-seal, $80,000 for Bowie park improvements, and $44,404 for administrative fees.

After determining the housing authority and the lead abatement program were necessary, the discussion turned to the other projects.

Supervisor Richard Searle wanted the Wesleyan preschool to get at least enough funding to chip-seal the parking lot and the driveway. The preschool serves many low-income children and benefits the community.

With all the emergency calls to Interstate 10, the supervisors determined a truck was needed by Bowie Fire District.

Ernest Bladin, chairman of the Bowie Fire Board, said the district needed a smaller truck, not a fire engine, to carry the essential equipment to handle wrecks, as well as some water. He suggested looking for a used truck.

Lewis said a used fire equipment truck could be purchased, but only if it was still under warranty. So, the supervisors cut the $175,000 to $80,000 for the truck.

Supervisor Ann English asked that a hazard abatement category be included that would allow the county to help Bowie and Pirtleville to clean up their communities.

County staff members were instructed to explore the supervisors’ suggestions and come up with another funding option that would include the housing authority, lead abatement, hazard abatement, Bowie fire truck, Wesleyan paving and administrative costs. The county would still be able to make the May 1 deadline to have the applications in to SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization, which handles the funding requests.

The matter will come before the board on April 28 for a final decision.