BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS'
REGULAR MEETING
January 23, 2008
1:30 p.m.
Commissioners’
Conference Room
APPROVED
2/6/2008
Commissioner Bobby
Green, Sr., presided with Commissioners Bill Dwyer, Bill Fleenor and Peter
Sorenson present. Faye Stewart was
excused. County Administrator Jeff
Spartz, County Counsel Teresa Wilson and Recording Secretary Melissa Zimmer were
also present.
16. PUBLIC
HEARINGS
a. ORDER 08-1-23-7/In
the Matter of Receiving Comments From the Public Through a Public Hearing About
Community Development Needs, and Lane County's Performance and Closeout of
Community Development Block Grant HR 410.
Mike McKenzie-Bahr,
Economic Development, explained that Lane County is completing the Lane County
Regional Housing Rehabilitation Program Grant HR 410. He said the project is funded with $375,000 from Community
Development Block Grant funds under the Oregon Economic and Community
Development Department. He said the location of the project is Mapleton,
Florence, and Oakridge. He added it
is estimated that the project has benefited 53 people of whom 100 percent were
low or moderate income. He
explained that the purpose of the hearing is for the Board of Commissioners to
obtain citizens’ views about the project and to take comments about the local
government’s performance. He
added that written comments could have been taken but no one submitted any.
Commissioner Green
opened the Public Hearing.
Celia Walker,
Eugene, stated she represented St. Vincent de Paul.
She indicated they are the contractor responsible for administering this
grant on behalf of Lane County. She
noted that Lane County and all of the small communities have joined together in
a consortium to work on the housing rehabilitation grants.
She said the grant was for $375,000 and it is the fifth closed grant that
they have accomplished in six years on behalf of the County and the small
cities. She said they served 67
people and did complete rehabs on 20 households with an average cost of $20,000.
She added that five of these were handicapped accessibility issues requiring a
bathroom remodel or handicapped ramp assistance. She indicated that they had
repayment of the program of $30,000 and it is being re-loaned again.
She recalled on the other two prior Lane County grants, they had a total
of $180,000 that had been repaid within six years.
She added all of that money has been committed for the next 18 months for
seven more households. She said in
total the grant successfully closed within their allotted time and statewide
they were tied for number one in efficiencies for grant administration. She
thought this was a good way to get the resources out to the community.
She said of the five closed grants they have, they have completed 92
homes, served 228 people countywide and have spent $1.6 million in the County.
She added with open grants for over the past six years they had a total
of $2.4 million expended through the grant program.
She noted that St. Vincent de Paul maintained their 20 percent
administration fee and have had clear and clean audits from the internal and
state auditor on each occasion.
McKenzie-Bahr
reported that they have been reimbursed their final payment from the state on
the project.
There being no one
else signed up to speak, Commissioner Green closed the Public Hearing.
MOTION:
to approve ORDER 08-1-23-7.
Dwyer MOVED,
Fleenor SECONDED.
VOTE:
4-0.
b. ORDER 08-1-23-8/In
the Matter of Receiving Comments from the Public Through a Public Hearing About
Community Development Needs, Proposed Projects to Meet These Needs, Lane
County's Performance of Community Development Block Grants and Setting Project
Priorities.
McKenzie-Bahr
announced that Lane County is eligible to apply for a 2008 Community Development
Block Grant from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department.
He noted the funds would come from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development
Department and the grants are to be used for public facilities and housing
improvements for persons with low and moderate income.
He indicated approximately $14 million would be awarded to Oregon
non-metropolitan cities and counties in 2008.
He said the maximum grant a city or county could receive is $1 million.
He added that Lane County is preparing an application for a 2008
community development block grant from the Oregon Economic and Community
Development Department for the Row River Water District in Lane County, to bring
their water system up to code. He said it is estimated the project will benefit at least 725
people of whom 65 percent are low or moderate income.
McKenzie-Bahr
explained that the purpose of this hearing is for the Board of Commissioners to
obtain the citizen views and to respond to questions and comments about
community development and housing needs and especially the needs for low and
moderate income persons as well as other needs in the community that might be
assisted with a community development block grant project and the proposed Row
River Water project.
Commissioner Green
opened the Public Hearing.
McKenzie-Bahr
reported he had comments to be submitted by the Economic Development Standing
Committee. He recalled at its last
meeting they voted to recommend that the Board make the Row River Valley Water
District system improvement project its CDBG priority.
He added they wanted to have the Board chair sign a letter of support for
Cottage Grove’s CDBG application on behalf of the South Lane Mental Health
Center.
McKenzie-Bahr
stated the people from the Row River Valley Water District’s comments were to
thank the Board for all of the work that was done on their behalf.
He said the project is moving forward and the CDBG grant is to fund the
installation of a water treatment system to replace their aging and antiquated
water treatment system.
There being no one
else signed up to speak, Commissioner Green closed the Public Hearing.
MOTION:
to approve ORDER 08-1-23-8.
Dwyer MOVED,
Fleenor SECONDED.
VOTE:
5-0.
17. COMMISSIONERS'
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Spartz announced that he and Stewart attended the United Way Celebration
dinner. He indicated that Lane
County was presented with an award for the recognition of the efforts of the
Lane County employees.
18. CORRESPONDENCE
TO THE BOARD
None.
19. OTHER
BUSINESS
RESOLUTION 08-1-23-9/In the Matter of Proclaiming January 30, 2008,
through April 4, 2008 a Season of Non Violence.
MOTION: to approve RESOLUTION 08-1-23-9.
Dwyer MOVED, Sorenson SECONDED.
VOTE: 4-0.
Sorenson requested a copy be sent to Jerry Kendall, Land Management.
There being no further business, Commissioner Green adjourned the meeting
at 1:50 p.m.
Melissa Zimmer
Recording Secretary