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Housing authority updates commissioners on salaries, grants and preservation projects
Summary
The Coffey County housing authority briefed commissioners on a recent salary adjustment, ongoing rehabilitation and preservation grants, and plans for new rental development and property surveys.
Commissioners heard an extended update from the local housing authority on budget changes, development plans and grant-funded rehabilitation programs during a regular meeting Thursday.
The housing authority representative, Rhonda, told commissioners the agency recently adjusted executive and administrative salaries after a market review. "The board did adjust our salaries to what over the state and the county," Rhonda said, adding the authority compared itself to surrounding Kansas housing agencies even though it said its work extends beyond typical low-income rental operations.
Rhonda described ongoing programs and projects the authority is pursuing. "We always have our housing preservation grant that I write for, and we get that each year," she said, noting the authority matches most grants and that the program focuses on repairs for low- and very-low-income households.
She said the authority received a $25,000 shovel-ready loan from the state of Kansas to prepare site infrastructure and had used roughly $8,000 so far. Rhonda described how some grant programs now require grantees to front project costs and be reimbursed afterward, which affects the authority's cash flow.
On specific development plans, Rhonda said the authority has land under consideration and a five-year plan that includes the "Lerewood" project for moderate-income housing. She also said the agency has a survey completed for property across from the school district and plans to bid site work: "Now I've gotta bid it out. We'll bridal those, whoever. We're having a meeting today, actually, to figure out where we are now and try to get that ready to have property, for anybody to build on."
Commissioners asked about the financial performance of the authority's rental properties. Rhonda said Burlington units have been stable and that Leroy triplexes carry loans that are being paid down: "We actually owe about 45,000. I put 35,000 because I thought I have it paid down when I get my distribution within the month." She said combined monthly rent from properties is reinvested into the nonprofit's operations.
On funding, Rhonda listed recent and current awards: a $50,000 housing-preservation grant (with a match), the $25,000 shovel loan from the state and smaller USDA and federal home loan attempts. She said she will continue writing for federal and state rehabilitation funds and that the authority frequently needs more than the smaller USDA $5,000 caps to address larger repairs such as roofs and major rehab.
Commissioners thanked Rhonda and asked her to return with any finalized bids or reimbursement requests; she said she would coordinate with county staff to settle a partial survey bill for school-adjacent property and to follow up on potential cost-sharing with the school district.
Rhonda closed by reiterating the authority's long-term focus on preservation and providing rehabilitation aid to residents who are on fixed incomes.
