ROGERS--Sidewalk construction, housing projects, Fire Department equipment, and the condemnation of unsafe structures are in store due to the approval of accepting roughly $500,000 in grants.
The items were approved Tuesday night by the City Council.
Council action
Rogers’ City Council met Tuesday and approved
• Renaming South 46th Street to South 48th Street. The change would properly align streets for better navigation by the Fire Department, such as responding to 911 calls. This particular segment doesn’t require the change of any addresses, said Chief Tom Jenkins.
• An agreement between the Fire Department and Benton County for a Coordinated Fire Defense Program. Jenkins said the agreement originally began in 1983 and allows the city to use equipment, such as fire engines, trailers and hazardous material equipment, owned by the county.
SOURCE: Staff Report
A Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for $417,445 was accepted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Donna Johnston, the CDBG administrator, said the grant was accepted and the council needed only approve the appropriation of it.
"Most of it will go to housing and construction of public sidewalks... in low income areas," Johnston said. "It took a couple years to get enough money...but it will be done in conjunction with streets."
A total of $164,445 was set toward public construction projects and $150,000 was earmarked for housing projects. About $2,500 will go to construction of a dock for Open Avenues, a nonprofit organization that provides workforce opportunities for adults with disabilities.
Johnston said the facility has two docks but has needed a third for some time.
"They can't move the product fast enough," she said. "Usually one truck is waiting (around) for loading, because productivity is moving much faster."
Money for the CDBG can be used for nonprofit groups, Johnston said.
"Donna is always on the lookout for the city, to put our funds where they are best used," said Alderman Betsy Reithemeyer. "She's done an outstanding job in how she managed this and taken care of citizens."
"I've seen better use for this money the last couple years, since (Donna) has been handling this," said Alderman Marge Wolf.
A $11,975 grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was approved. Fire Chief Tom Jenkins said the money would be used to purchase a training prop for the Rogers Fire Department training center.
A total of $60,000 from general fund reserve was set aside for condemnation expenses, some of which the city has already incurred and others that are anticipated. Each condemnation has an individual value rate based on the property and construction. Those costs weren't included in the city budget.
"We've taken down several houses in Rogers for the first time in years," Jenkins said. "And have some future condemnations and razings...this is essentially giving ourselves a loan."
Selling the property on which a deteriorated building has been condemned will give the city the chance to make up the cost, Jenkins said.
A $75,000 grant from Tyson Foods was approved for the expansion and renovation of the Rogers Historical Museum. John Burroughs, executive director of the museum, said the sum is not a matching grant, but an outright gift.
NW News on 09/14/2016