Board adopts required CDBG policies for Crittenton Center grant

Woodbury County adopted a set of policies required for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application and award for the Crittenton Center. Ryan Erickson presented the package and said the policies are federal requirements supplied by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and adapted for county use; he said the county attorney reviewed them and raised no issues.

Policy items approved included the Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan, an Excessive Force Resolution, a Fair Housing Policy, a Code of Conduct (conflict-of-interest policy) and a Procurement Policy. Erickson explained that although the Crittenton Center will perform most purchasing for its renovation project, the county must adopt a procurement policy to meet federal requirements and will enforce that policy on the Crittenton Center.

Supervisor motions to adopt each required policy were made, seconded and passed; the sheriff’s office reviewed the excessive force resolution and reported no issue (as noted by Ryan Erickson). The fair housing policy was adopted despite Erickson saying the specific renovation project would not itself produce new rental units subject to the policy; the state requires the policy on file.

Ending: With the policies adopted, the county meets administrative preconditions for the grant award; staff and the Crittenton Center will follow the procurement and record-keeping rules required by the CDBG program.