With the recognition that some agencies may be disappointed, local governments have made the tough choices concerning targeted use for 2005 community development block grant funds.
After tabling the issue last month, the Clarkston City Council voted on Nov. 8 to spend an estimated $8,000 in federal funds in four separate areas.
In the ‘public service? category, the city designated $2,000 each to the Meals on Wheels program for senior citizens and Clarkston Area Youth Assistance programs.
The primary purpose of CDBG funds is to help ‘low-to-moderate-income? residents, but City Manager Art Pappas said rules set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allow a portion to be used for ‘administration.? The council approved $2,000 in that category, although Pappas said it may take a couple years to spend the entire amount.
By keeping track of his time spent on eligible projects in the past, Pappas said he has been successful in obtaining reimbursement from the federal government.
The other $2,000 will go toward a subwatershed public education program, with the intent to purchase brochures and other items for local residents.
‘We’re mandated [by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality] to provide this,? Mayor Sharron Catallo said.
Pappas finished the thought: ?…for the rest of our lives.?
In Springfield Township, trustees had also tabled their decision, seeking more information from the ‘public service? applicants on their funding sources and how many township residents they served.
At their Nov. 11 meeting, the board debated how to divide an estimated $39,107 in grant funds for 2005. With about half reserved for ‘public service? purposes, applicants included the Springfield Township Library, the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency, Kaleidoscope Foundation, Neighbor for Neighbor, Lighthouse of Clarkston, Haven and Holly Area Youth Assistance.
By a 5-2 vote (Supervisor Collin Walls and Treasurer Jamie Dubre voting no), the board approved ‘public service? allocations based on ‘types of service? rather than agency names:
n Audio books for the visually impaired (Springfield Township Library), $4,508.50.
n Crisis intervention and counseling for victims of domestic assault, sexual abuse and child neglect (HAVEN), $3,000.
n Food distribution, housing, utility and medical assistance (Neighbor for Neighbor), $8,000.
n Recreational activities for adults with disabilities (Kaleidoscope Foundation), $4,000.
In addition, the board approved $7,803 for ‘planning and management? for either a library needs assessment, a storm sewer database study or a combination of the two; $6,000 for removing architectural barriers at the Mill Pond beach; and $5,705.50 for minor home repairs to needy citizens.
‘I looked at last year’s for guidance,? said Trustee David Hopper in making the motion, ‘and I know what we’ve been trying to do in the past is get the most bang for the buck.?
Trustee-elect Marc Cooper answered questions on behalf of the Kaleidoscope Foundation, noting the organization does get some revenue from their senior lunch program. That led the board to drop that service from an original proposal for CDBG funding.
Likewise, Trustee Margaret Bloom’s suggestion to fund Youth Assistance met with a similar reaction.
‘Youth Assistance is already being funded,? Walls said. ‘These funds are for agencies that can’t otherwise do [their programs].?
Treasurer Jamie Dubre unsuccessfully proposed some funding for OLHSA’s home chores program, although their report showed only three Springfield Township residents served last year.
‘If we funded some, they might serve more,? she said.
After the vote, trustees suggested Kaleidoscope Foundation be more aggressive in seeking funding for senior lunches from local businesses and group homes.