The Fayetteville Housing Authority board on June 26 approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Lonoke County Housing Authority to provide technical assistance for compliance work at Morgan Manor and to support predevelopment and strategic planning for the authority's public housing portfolio. The board approved Resolution 13-52 by recorded vote.

Executive Director Shonda Tapley told commissioners that the IGA is needed because Morgan Manor requires specialized troubleshooting for its property management data and compliance, and the authority has experienced staff turnover and loss of institutional knowledge. Tapley said Lonoke County Housing Authority has relevant experience with the Lendly software and with multifamily properties and can devote time faster than other vendors the authority consulted.

Tapley described two principal tasks under the IGA: task 1 would provide technical assistance and data/system support specific to Morgan Manor; task 2 would fund predevelopment and strategic planning to evaluate whether properties should be rehabilitated, demolished, disposed, or converted to another HUD-approved subsidy approach such as RAD/PBRA. Tapley said the IGA allows the authority to use the experience of a neighboring housing authority rather than hiring a private vendor who may not have equivalent public-housing expertise.

Commission discussion referenced the loss of HUD field office capacity (regional field contacts consolidated) and the need to accelerate remediation to avoid further units being taken offline. Commissioner Cole said she had met several Lonoke County staff at regional training and supported using a public housing partner for this work. A motion to approve Resolution 13-52 passed with recorded "aye" votes from the commissioners present.

Tapley said the authority will include steps in the planning process to avoid leaving current residents without housing during any redevelopment; she also asked the board to allow her to sign the IGA so staff can begin work quickly. The IGA will be an intergovernmental agreement (required between public housing authorities for these services) rather than a vendor contract because it is an agreement between public entities.