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Council approves PADD construction administration and first reimbursements for downtown revitalization projects
Summary
The council approved a construction‑management agreement with PADD for a CDBG downtown revitalization grant and authorized first reimbursements to two businesses for completed work under the program.
The City of Sydney approved an agreement on Aug. 4 authorizing the Panhandle Area Development District (PADD) to serve as construction administrator for the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) downtown revitalization program and approved initial drawdowns reimbursing two local projects. Brandy Stone, the city’s economic development official, told the council that PADD has administered the grant’s general administration portion and that the present agreement formalizes construction management work. The city sought an initial drawdown of $22,855 to cover PADD’s early construction-management activities, with further drawdowns to follow. The council also approved reimbursement requests from downtown property projects: a digital marquee for the Fox Theater (first drawdown for $25,965.58) and façade and internal repairs at Price Cream (first drawdown for $7,216.21). Stone said the $400,000 downtown block of the grant is the program’s available construction funding, with $35,000 carved out for administration; businesses receiving CDBG assistance remain responsible for 25% of project costs but may apply for local Historic Preservation Board façade-enhancement funds that can reduce that local match. City staff and a volunteer historic-preservation chair described the grant’s history: the Historic Preservation Board helped apply for the CDBG funding to enable larger façade and building projects downtown, and state rules require environmental reviews and other administration that PADD is equipped to manage. Stone said projects must be completed by spring unless the city secures a one‑time extension from the state; staff will monitor spending and come back to the council as additional drawdowns are requested. Discussion versus action: the presentations were informational and the council voted to approve the construction-administrator agreement with PADD and the two reimbursement requests. The reimbursements are part of an ongoing, phased reimbursement process under the CDBG program.
