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Council awards $12,000 in spring matching grants to 17 homeowner and neighborhood associations
Summary
DeSoto approved disbursement of $12,000 total to 17 homeowner and neighborhood associations through the spring 2025 neighborhood matching grant round; Councilmember Perrette Parker recused herself from the vote.
The DeSoto City Council authorized disbursement of $12,000 in neighborhood-matching grant funds to 17 homeowner and neighborhood associations for the spring 2025 round.
Dr. Esther Williams, director of community services and external affairs, presented the selection process and noted that each applicant met eligibility requirements and that a review committee of five residents (from non‑applicant neighborhoods) plus two staff members scored the applications using a published rubric. Projects eligible for funding included entrance beautification, minor repairs, maintenance, and neighborhood enhancements. Top awards included projects for Kinsdale Farms, Silver Creek Estates and Hampton Meadows; smaller awards funded fence and wall repairs in other neighborhoods.
Councilmember Perrette Parker announced a recusal from the vote because she works as an HOA manager and wanted to avoid any appearance of conflict; staff recorded one abstention. Councilmember Crystal Chisholm recommended future transparency improvements: publish awarded projects with scoring rubrics and require that applications come from HOA boards or president contacts to limit third‑party applicants. Dr. Williams said the program requires HOAs to match awarded funds and that the award decisions would be distributed in June.
The council vote approved the disbursements; staff will follow contract and payment procedures and monitor project completion per the matching-grant terms.
