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HRA approves budget amendment, program year 2025 action plan, $16,000 for Elevate Hope House and two‑year financial advisor contract
Summary
The Anoka County HRA Board approved a $150,000 budget amendment from a closed Minnesota Investment Fund loan account, adopted the program year 2025 action plan (with a separate vote approving $16,000 for Elevate Hope House that carried with one abstention), and approved a two‑year contract with Ehlers and Associates not to exceed $25,000.
The Anoka County Housing and Redevelopment Authority on March 21 approved several fiscal and program actions recommended by staff, including a budget amendment, adoption of the agency’s program year 2025 action plan, a $16,000 CDBG award to Elevate Hope House, and a two‑year financial advisor contract.
Budget amendment: The board approved a Management Committee recommendation to move $150,000 retained from a closed Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) revolving loan program into the HRA’s 2025 activity funds. HRA staff said $125,000 is earmarked for unspecified economic development activities and $25,000 is designated for an equipment purchase at Anoka Technical College. The motion to approve the budget amendment was moved by Trustee Reinert and passed on a roll call vote with all trustees voting yes (Trustees Brasstead, Reinert, Gamache, Schulte, Jepsen, Meisner, Heinrich, Brasstead).
Program Year 2025 action plan: Trustees moved and seconded staff’s recommended PY2025 action plan with one procedural modification: the board voted first on the full plan excluding one funding recommendation (Elevate Hope House) and then took a separate vote on the Elevate Hope House request. The first portion of the PY2025 action plan (everything except Elevate Hope House) passed unanimously on roll call after a motion by Trustee Schulte and a second by Trustee Meisner.
Elevate Hope House funding: Trustee Schulte moved to authorize $16,000 to Elevate Hope House through the CDBG program; Trustee Jepsen seconded. Trustee Heinrich recused themself from that vote because a family member now works at Elevate Hope House; when the roll call was taken Heinrich registered an abstention. The motion passed with seven votes in favor and one abstention (Heinrich).
Ehlers and Associates contract: Trustees approved a two‑year contract with Ehlers and Associates to serve as HRA financial advisor, not to exceed $25,000. The motion was moved by Trustee Reinert and seconded by Trustee Meisner; the roll call vote was unanimous.
What changed and next steps: Staff will apply the budget amendment funds to the economic development activity accounts and process the Anoka Technical College equipment purchase as identified. The PY2025 action plan, including the approved Elevate Hope House award, will be forwarded as part of the HRA’s submission for program year funds and to the Anoka County Board where applicable. The Ehlers contract will be executed under the terms approved by the board.
Votes at a glance — - Budget amendment (use $150,000 retained MIF loan payments; $125,000 economic development; $25,000 Anoka Technical College equipment): mover Trustee Reinert; outcome: approved unanimously (yes: Brasstead, Reinert, Gamache, Schulte, Jepsen, Meisner, Heinrich, Brasstead). - PY2025 action plan (staff recommendation, excluding Elevate Hope House in the first vote): mover Trustee Schulte, second Trustee Meisner; outcome: approved unanimously. - Elevate Hope House funding ($16,000 CDBG): mover Trustee Schulte, second Trustee Jepsen; outcome: approved (yes: Gamache, Schulte, Jepsen, Meisner, Brasstead, Reinert; abstain: Heinrich). - Ehlers and Associates contract (two years, not to exceed $25,000): mover Trustee Reinert, second Trustee Meisner; outcome: approved unanimously.
Board procedure notes: Trustee Heinrich recused themself from the Elevate Hope House vote and registered an abstention; the board split the PY2025 action plan vote to allow separate consideration of that single funding request.
